• An Afghan asylum seeker, Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, died in ICE custody less than 24 hours after arrest.
• Paktyawal had previously worked with U.S. military forces in Afghanistan and had been living in Texas with his family.
• His death has sparked outrage and calls from advocacy groups for a thorough investigation.
• Data indicates a significant increase in deaths in ICE custody amidst strict immigration policies.
• Paktyawal's family expressed disbelief over his sudden death, highlighting his prior good health.

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, died shortly after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas. Detained on March 13 while taking his children to school, he was rushed to Parkland Hospital in Dallas within hours and pronounced dead the following morning, raising serious concerns over the conditions of his detention and medical care provided there, according to SCMP and LATimes.

Paktyawal, who had served alongside U.S. special forces in Afghanistan, was reported to have shown no previous medical conditions before his detention, leading his family and advocacy groups to call for a full investigation into his death. “We still cannot understand how this happened... his children keep asking when their father will come home,” the family stated, expressing their devastation over the sudden loss, highlighted by reports from Al Jazeera and LATimes.

In its statements, ICE indicated that Paktyawal developed symptoms shortly after his detention and received medical attention. However, the agency's label of Paktyawal as a “criminal illegal alien” due to past legal issues has drawn criticism from advocates, claiming it distracts from the circumstances surrounding his death. Shawn VanDiver, of AfghanEvac, pointed out, “It is not normal for an otherwise healthy, 41-year-old man to die within 24 hours of being brought into custody,” emphasizing the call for accountability in Paktyawal's treatment, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

Deaths in ICE custody have reportedly surged under the current administration, with at least 12 deaths this fiscal year as documented by various reports. The increase in detainee populations and subsequent deaths raises concerns regarding the treatment and health care of those held in immigration detention. Recent statistics indicate about 70,000 individuals detained as part of enhanced immigration enforcement tactics initiated during President Trump's administration, according to reports from LATimes and Al Jazeera.