An Afghan national who had previously served alongside U.S. forces tragically passed away due to an allergic reaction while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His death occurred just one day after he was detained for deportation proceedings, as documented in his death certificate.
Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, aged 41, experienced “an adverse drug reaction” to an unidentified substance, leading to anaphylaxis and worsening his pre-existing asthma condition. His death on March 14 at a Dallas hospital has been classified as accidental.
Paktiawal’s unexpected death while in ICE custody has sparked significant outrage, particularly given his decade-long service as an ally to U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan.
Out of over 50 deaths recorded in ICE detention during former President Donald Trump’s second term, Paktiawal’s case is the first to be officially deemed an accident, according to tracking by The Associated Press. The majority of the other cases have been attributed to natural causes or suicide.
An advocacy organization, AfghanEvac, along with two congressional members, has urged Texas authorities to release Paktiawal’s autopsy report, which they have withheld, citing the need to protect an ongoing criminal investigation.
Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, emphasized the family’s right to understand the circumstances surrounding Paktiawal’s death. He demanded clarification on the substance that caused the allergic reaction, how it entered his system, and the discrepancy regarding the date of injury listed on the death certificate, which is marked as the day before his detention.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, echoed these concerns, suggesting that the situation appears to reflect an attempted cover-up. He has signaled intentions to request the Department of Homeland Security to release the autopsy report.
Paktiawal was among the thousands evacuated from Afghanistan following the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021. He arrived in the United States through legal channels and submitted an asylum application, which was still under review at the time of his arrest at his home in Richardson, Texas, on March 13 while preparing his six children for school.
ICE has justified its move to pursue Paktiawal’s deportation, citing prior arrests related to food stamp fraud and theft, though he had not been convicted in either case.
In a statement, ICE referred to its previous report concerning Paktiawal’s death, indicating that he had been screened at its Dallas office and denied any medical issues or allergies. However, shortly after, he began to experience severe shortness of breath and chest pain in a holding area and was subsequently transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
The following morning, hospital staff observed swelling of his tongue during breakfast and administered epinephrine, a medication used to treat allergic reactions. Despite attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead approximately 40 minutes later.
The death certificate identifies the cause of death as “anaphylaxis complicating acute asthma exacerbation.” Anaphylaxis is a critical allergic reaction often triggered by allergens such as food, medications, or insect stings. The document also lists methamphetamine toxicity, heart disease, and cigarette smoking as contributing factors.
Family members have expressed disbelief that Paktiawal used methamphetamine, and a second autopsy commissioned by the family could not confirm the presence of the substance due to a lack of blood samples for testing. His wife has stated that he relied on an inhaler for his asthma, which ICE agents refused to accept when he was taken into custody.
Paktiawal’s younger brother, Naseer, voiced frustration over the circumstances, demanding clarity regarding the nature of the incident. He remembered his brother as a courageous soldier who fought in perilous regions of Afghanistan and later worked long hours in the U.S. as a truck driver and in a market and bakery to support his family.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause and manner of death following an autopsy. However, county officials have declined to release the report, citing ICE’s assertions that doing so would impede a federal investigation into the death. They have requested permission from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office to withhold the report under a law enforcement exemption applicable to the state’s open records law.
In a response to the AP’s inquiry regarding the report, Dallas County official Jennifer Rose indicated that releasing the document would hinder the investigation and prosecution of a potential crime.
While Paxton’s office has yet to make a decision on this matter, it has previously approved similar requests from other Texas counties to keep autopsy reports confidential in cases involving deaths in ICE custody.
