Death certificate cites allergic reaction in Afghan man’s ICE custody death

Click to expand Image Naseer Ahmad Paktiawal holds Abubakar Paktiawal, son of his brother Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, who died in ICE custody, at the Abu Hanifa Mosque in Richardson, Texas, U.S. June 4, 2026. © 2026 Shelby Tauber/Reuters Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal—an Afghan asylum seeker who had worked alongside the US military in Afghanistan—died on March 14, 2026, from an alleged allergic reaction less than 24 hours after being detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas. His death certificate was released, 103 days later, on June 25, 2026.In announcing his death, ICE vilified Paktiawal as a “criminal illegal alien,” adding erroneous insult to his death. He had prior arrests for fraud and theft, but no convictions. Moreover, he was not in the United States illegally, but was paroled in due to his decade of work in support of US military operations. He had a pending asylum claim, but the administration suspended processing of Afghan asylum claims last November.The 41-year-old father of six was arrested outside his home on March 13 while preparing to take his children to school, a part of a “targeted enforcement action.” His family told #AfghanEvac that Paktiawal relied on an inhaler his wife attempted to provide. According to ICE, Paktiawal reported shortness of breath and chest pains and was transferred to the hospital. He died the next day.Paktiawal’s death is part of a dramatic increase in ICE custody deaths: 54 people died in ICE custody between January 2025 and June 24, 2026, significantly outpacing the expanding numbers of detained people.Transparency demands have intensified since the current administration took office, as ICE has repeatedly failed to publish timely information on deaths in its custody, including sufficient details on the health care received by people in the lead-up to their deaths.Paktiawal’s death was declared an accident, raising more questions than it answered.Moreover, the administration has refused to release additional information surrounding Paktiawal’s death, despite months of demands from Paktiawal’s family, advocacy organizations, and members of Congress, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX). Local authorities have also withheld the autopsy report, citing ICE concerns that its release could “hinder and/or interfere the ongoing federal criminal investigation.”Transparency and accountability includes full investigations and information. Release of Paktiawal’s full autopsy report would be a good start, and authorities should seriously consider taking at least that step.

An Afghan man who worked with the United States military for more than a decade died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody due to an allergic reaction—but the release of his death certificate brings more questions than answers.Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal suffered “an adverse drug reaction” to an unidentified substance, which triggered anaphylaxis and exacerbated his asthma, according to his death certificate. The document was certified on June 25 and released Monday, three months after his death. AfghanEvac, an advocacy group, reported that the death certificate falsely states that Paktiawal died on March 12—a day before he was even taken into custody. It also lists the effects of methamphetamine, which Paktiawal’s friends and family say he did not use. “If my brother never used that drug in his life, how did it get into his body while he was inside an ICE building?” said Naseer Paktiawal, the deceased’s brother. The family has still not received an autopsy report explaining Paktiawal’s death certificate. In a June 24 letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office said it would continue to withhold his full autopsy report because of a pending federal criminal investigation.Paktiawal was detained by federal immigration agents in Richardson, Texas, on March 13 while dropping off two of his children at preschool. After 24 hours with ICE, he was dead. The evening of his arrest, Paktiawal complained of shortness of breath and chest pain while being held in the ICE’s Dallas field office. He was then transferred to Parkland Hospital, where he received treatment and remained for observation. The next morning, medical staff observed that his tongue had become swollen. Later, after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other lifesaving measures, Paktiawal was declared dead. Before emigrating to the United States in 2021, Paktiawal was a member of the Afghan special forces who were hired by the U.S. government. He worked with them for more than a decade. According to ICE, Paktiawal was “paroled into the U.S. by an immigration officer,” or granted temporary permission to enter the country under Operation Allies Refuge, an evacuation effort for allied Afghan nationals that took place under the Biden administration. ICE claimed they had no record of his military service, and said his parole expired in August 2025. The agency also claimed that Paktiawal had previously been arrested for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud and theft.More than 50 people have died in ICE custody since President Donald Trump returned to office—a marked increase from past administrations—but Paktiawal’s death is the first to be ruled an accident.

A death certificate shows an Afghan national who fought alongside U.S. forces died from an allergic reaction while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one day after he was detained

An Afghan ally who spent a decade fighting alongside US Special Forces died from an apparent allergic reaction after being taken into ICE custody, with his death officially ruled an accident.

A death certificate shows an Afghan national who fought alongside U.S. forces died from an allergic reaction while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one day after he was detained