ICE Detainee Death Notification - Afghan National

ICE News Releases

Published March 15th, 2026

Detected March 16th, 2026

Summary

ICE announced the death of an Afghan national, Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, who was in ICE custody for less than one day. Paktiawal had prior arrests for fraud and theft. His death is under active investigation.

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What changed

ICE has issued a notice regarding the death of Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, a 41-year-old Afghan national, who passed away on March 14, 2026, while in ICE custody in Dallas, Texas. Paktiawal had a history of arrests for SNAP fraud and theft and was taken into ICE custody on March 13, 2026. He reported no prior medical history upon arrest but experienced shortness of breath and chest pains shortly after, leading to hospitalization. He was declared deceased on March 14, 2026, after medical staff noted a swollen tongue and attempted lifesaving efforts.

This notice serves as an official report of an in-custody death, consistent with ICE policy and DHS Appropriations Act requirements. The death is under active investigation, and consular notifications have been made. While this is an informational notice, regulated entities, particularly those involved in immigration processing or detention, should be aware of ICE's reporting protocols for detainee deaths and the ongoing commitment to providing medical care in custody. No specific compliance actions are required for regulated entities based on this notice.

Source document (simplified)

March 15, 2026 Dallas, TX, United States Detainee Death Notifications

Criminal illegal alien from Afghanistan with previous arrests for fraud and theft passes away at Texas hospital

The criminal detainee was in custody for less than one day DALLAS — Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, a criminal illegal alien from Afghanistan, passed away March 14 at the Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. A physician at the hospital declared Paktiawal deceased at 9:10 a.m. Central Daylight Time. He had been in ICE custody for one day. His passing is currently under active investigation.

Paktiawal has a known criminal history including an arrest by local authorities for SNAP fraud, a felony, on Sept. 16, 2025. He was arrested a second time for theft on Nov. 1, 2025.

ICE arrested Paktiawal March 13 during a targeted enforcement action and placed him into immigration proceedings. At the time of arrest and processing, he did not report any prior medical history.

In the late evening of March 13, ICE contacted Emergency Medical Services when Paktiawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains while in an ICE Dallas Field Office processing hold room. He was immediately transported to Parkland Hospital and received breathing treatment. The ER doctor recommended that he remain in the hospital for observation.

Early March 14, Paktiawal was eating breakfast when medical staff noted that his tongue had become swollen, prompting a medical response. After multiple lifesaving efforts were attempted, he was declared deceased at 9:10 a.m.

ICE notified his next of kin and the Consulate of Afghanistan in Toronto, Canada, of Paktiawal’s death on March 14.

Paktiawal entered the United States at Washington Dulles International Airport, Maryland Aug. 21, 2021 and was paroled into the U.S. by an immigration officer. The duration of his parole expired Aug. 20, 2025.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. ERO will coordinate appropriate consular notifications in accordance with international and domestic laws and will make efforts to notify Paktiawal’s next of kin or other designated contact.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov’s Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov’s Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.

Updated:

03/15/2026