Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan immigrant who had worked with the US military, died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody less than 24 hours after federal agents arrested him outside his Dallas-area home on Friday morning. Paktyawal was taking his children to school when agents detained him while his asylum case remained pending, according to Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, a veteran-led advocacy group.
Paktyawal had been living in the Dallas suburb with his wife and six children. His family was told he was transported to a Dallas hospital on the night of his arrest and was still alive the following morning before dying shortly after.
VanDiver stated that it is highly unusual for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than a day after being taken into government custody.
Last year, 31 people died after being detained by ICE, marking a two-decade high. ICE has played a central role in the Trump administration's policy of mass deportations.
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan immigrant who had worked with the US military, died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody less than 24 hours after federal agents arrested him outside his Dallas-area home on Friday morning. Paktyawal was taking his children to school when agents detained him while his asylum case remained pending, according to Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, a veteran-led advocacy group that announced his death on Sunday.
Paktyawal had been living in the Dallas suburb with his wife and six children. His family was told he was transported to a Dallas hospital on the night of his arrest and was still alive the following morning before dying shortly after.
VanDiver stated that it is highly unusual for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than a day after being taken into government custody. The circumstances surrounding Paktyawal's death raise questions about conditions and medical care in ICE detention facilities.
Last year, 31 people died after being detained by ICE, marking a two-decade high. ICE has played a central role in the Trump administration's policy of mass deportations, making detention facility practices a focal point for advocacy groups and policymakers examining immigration enforcement.
Paktyawal's case adds to mounting scrutiny over detainee treatment and the speed at which deaths occur in federal custody. His family's pending asylum case and his prior service with US forces underscore the complexity of immigration detention involving individuals with ties to American military operations.
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