Paktyawal was arrested on the morning of Friday, March 13, by masked agents who handcuffed him while he was preparing to take his children to school, according to multiple reports. Little information is available about what happened in the hours following his arrest and what led to his sudden death. According to the Department of Homeland Security, on Friday night Paktyawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain while at an immigration enforcement office in Dallas and was taken to Parkland Hospital. Doctors recommended he remain hospitalized overnight for observation after receiving treatment. On Saturday morning, according to DHS, Paktyawal was having breakfast when medical staff noticed his tongue was swollen, prompting medical intervention. He was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m. after several attempts at resuscitation.
Conflicting narratives have emerged about Paktyawal's background and legal status. The Department of Homeland Security described Paktyawal as a 'criminal illegal alien' whose parole expired on August 20, 2025, and stated he entered under Biden's Operation Allies Refuge in August 2021. DHS labeled Paktyawal a criminal, stating he had a criminal record including an arrest for SNAP fraud on September 16, 2025, and a second arrest for theft on November 1, 2025. ICE said Paktyawal was arrested for alleged SNAP fraud and theft. In contrast, Paktyawal's family said he was in the country legally after serving with the U.S. military, had a pending asylum case, and his green card had expired in August 2025. Paktyawal had worked for the American military in Afghanistan before moving to the U.S. in 2021, and he had a pending asylum case and had completed an asylum interview. His family have questioned the veracity of the information about his criminal record, and they accused the Trump administration of killing him.
According to his family, Paktyawal had no underlying health conditions. He lived in Texas with his wife and six children, the youngest of whom is 18 months old and a U.S. citizen. Paktyawal worked at an Afghan halal market in the Dallas area and was the primary breadwinner for his family.
Paktyawal's death follows other recent fatalities in ICE custody. Royer Perez-Jimenez, a 19-year-old Mexican migrant, died in ICE custody in Florida, according to multiple reports. ICE said Perez-Jimenez 'died of presumed suicide,' but the cause is under investigation. Perez-Jimenez is the youngest detainee to die in ICE custody since the start of Trump's second term. José Guadalupe Ramos, a Mexican immigrant, died at the Adelanto detention center in California, multiple sources indicate. Ramos had diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and received daily medication.
The number of immigrants in ICE detention has reached record levels under Trump's mass deportation campaign. President Trump implemented immigration policy changes focused on increasing interior enforcement efforts to support mass deportation, research shows. The number of immigrants detained by ICE increased to over 68,000 as of February 7, 2026, an increase of over 70% from the 39,000 held at the end of the Biden administration in December 2024.
Historically, deaths in ICE custody have surged. As of March 18, 2026, ICE reported that 46 people died while in their custody or detention facilities since the start of the second Trump administration in January 2025. The number of deaths of people in detention during 2025 exceeded the highest seen in over two decades. Deaths in 2026 are on track to meet or exceed the 2025 number. Thirty-two migrants died in ICE custody last year, the deadliest year since 2004.
Demographic patterns show that six of the deaths that occurred between January 1, 2025 and March 18, 2026 were among people with no reported criminality or pending criminal charges. A total of 36 deaths occurred among people who spent three or fewer months in ICE detention, including those transferred to a hospital for additional medical care. Thirty-eight deaths occurred among people younger than age 65, and 21 were among those under age 45. Twenty-two deaths were among people from Mexico and Central America, while ten were among people from Asia.
Systemic problems persist in detention facilities. The Adelanto detention facility is run by GEO Group, which faces a lawsuit alleging inhumane treatment and medical neglect, according to multiple reports. ICE is required to maintain certain basic health and safety standards in detention facilities, including initial medical and mental health screening, comprehensive health services, transfers to off-site medical care when necessary, and access to 24-hour emergency care. However, detention facilities have a history of inadequate compliance with health and safety standards, insufficient health care, shortages in health care staffing, and limited oversight. The increased number of people in detention facilities and overcrowding may further increase health risks, particularly for communicable diseases like measles and people with complex medical conditions.
ICE procedures mandate that the agency publish a news release with relevant details regarding custody deaths within two days, while full reports are published within 90 days of occurrence. ICE said Paktyawal did not report any prior medical history during arrest processing.
Political context adds to the controversy. Advocates allege Paktyawal was singled out due to his heritage to meet Trump's deportation goals. The Department of Homeland Security reported that Paktyawal's death is under investigation. According to a source, it is not normal for a healthy 41-year-old man to die less than 24 hours after being taken into government custody, and the family deserves answers and transparency.
Ongoing investigations leave many questions unanswered. What caused Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal's tongue to swell and lead to his death, and whether it was related to conditions in custody or pre-existing health issues remains unclear. The exact circumstances and timeline of events during the hours between Paktyawal's arrest and his death are also unknown, as little information is available. Whether Paktyawal had any underlying health conditions is uncertain, given conflicting information from his family and broader ICE data. The specific causes of death for the other migrants who died in ICE custody in 2025 and 2026, beyond the few cases detailed in reports, have not been fully disclosed. The outcome of investigations into Paktyawal's death and other custody deaths, including whether any accountability or policy changes will result, is still pending.