In mid-March, Naseer Paktiawal received alarming news about his older brother, Nazeer Paktyawal, who was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Concerned for his brother’s deteriorating health, Paktiawal summoned an ambulance to the ICE processing facility in Dallas.
As he watched the ambulance arrive, Paktiawal later received a call from Nazeer, who reported that his condition was worsening and that medical personnel had not checked on him. Tragically, the next morning, Nazeer Paktyawal was pronounced dead—just one day after his detention—making him the 12th individual to die in ICE custody this year. The count has since risen to 17 fatalities.
Paktiawal lamented, “If they had allowed the medics to attend to him, he would still be alive. He would still be here with his family and with me.”
Nazeer Paktyawal had previously served as a translator for U.S. forces in Afghanistan and was evacuated along with his family during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Paktiawal is now seeking clarity on the circumstances surrounding his brother’s untimely death, expressing deep sorrow over losing someone he regarded as a father figure.
“In what kind of a country do we live? If he’s not safe, I’m not safe,” Paktiawal said, reflecting on the disillusionment that followed his brother’s death. “He thought this country was the safest in the world, but it’s not. I don’t know what they did to my brother. He was healthy and working.”
ICE has not provided additional comments beyond its press release, which stated that Nazeer was declared dead at Parkland Hospital shortly after 9 a.m. on March 14 and asserted that it does not deny emergency care to individuals in its custody. The city of Dallas has also not commented regarding the ambulance response.
Nazeer Paktyawal fought alongside U.S. Special Forces during his military service and had made a significant contribution to the mission of peace and stability in Afghanistan. His brother, Naseer, was inspired by Nazeer’s example to work as a translator for American troops.
Both brothers were dedicated to supporting their family and believed in the U.S. mission, willing to put their lives on the line. After Naseer secured a special immigrant visa to relocate to the U.S. with his family, he experienced loneliness as the only member of his family in Texas, until Nazeer arrived in 2021.
“When he got here from Afghanistan, I felt like I had my whole family with me,” Naseer recalled. “Now I’m here alone again.”
The brothers lived in the same apartment complex and spent much of their time together, including outings to local parks and playing volleyball with friends. Rahmanullah Zazy, a family friend, described Nazeer as hard-working and grateful for the opportunities he found in the U.S.
Before his arrest, Nazeer had been working as a baker after losing his commercial trucking job due to a new rule from the previous administration regarding immigration status. Just hours before his detention, he had been healthy and engaged in his work, as confirmed by Naseer, who saw him at the grocery store the night before.
On the morning of his arrest, ICE officers detained Nazeer in front of his children, a moment that profoundly affected the family. ICE later reported that Nazeer had previous arrests related to charges of food benefits fraud and theft, though Naseer maintains his brother was innocent.
“Whatever they say about my brother, they’re just making excuses,” Naseer stated. “He was not a criminal. He was a hero. He served this country on behalf of the U.S. government.”
Hours after his brother’s arrest, Naseer received a call from Nazeer, who complained of feeling unwell, experiencing fever and difficulty breathing. When Naseer sought information about his brother’s medical care, he was reassured that everything was fine. However, after calling for an ambulance, he became concerned when he did not see medics attend to Nazeer.
Despite his insistence that his brother required medical attention, Nazeer was admitted to Parkland Hospital late that night. Early the following morning, hospital staff discovered that Nazeer’s condition had severely deteriorated, and he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Upon learning of his brother’s death, Naseer was initially in shock, believing it might be a mistake. After gathering with friends at the hospital, they were informed they could not see Nazeer’s body for several hours. Naseer questioned how someone who had been healthy could succumb so suddenly and was left searching for answers.
In the days that followed, the family arranged for Nazeer’s burial in Afghanistan, as Naseer felt a lack of trust regarding the handling of his brother’s remains in the U.S. He conveyed his grief, stating, “I didn’t want to bury him here. Because of what they did to my brother, I don’t trust them with his grave.”
Now, as he navigates his brother’s tragic loss, Naseer is determined to seek justice for Nazeer. He is also taking care of Nazeer’s wife and children while trying to find a larger home for their combined families. Community members have organized a GoFundMe campaign to assist them during this challenging time.
Paktiawal’s youngest nephew continues to ask about his father’s return, and Naseer wrestles with the painful future conversations he will have to have with the boy. “All I’m going to tell him is, ‘Your dad was a hero, and he was arrested falsely and he was killed,’” he said. “He didn’t die. My brother didn’t die—he was killed.”
