Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, a 41-year-old Afghan national who fought alongside U.S. Special Forces, died from an allergic reaction while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, according to his death certificate. Paktiawal’s death occurred on March 14, just one day after being detained for deportation proceedings. The certificate states that he suffered an adverse drug reaction to an unidentified substance, which triggered anaphylaxis and worsened his asthma. His death was ruled accidental.
Paktiawal spent a decade fighting alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan before being evacuated to the United States during the 2021 withdrawal. His death has sparked outrage, with members of Congress and advocacy group AfghanEvac demanding answers. AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver has urged Texas officials to release the full autopsy report, arguing that Paktiawal’s family deserves answers. Authorities have sought to keep the report sealed, citing an ongoing criminal investigation.
Paktiawal’s death is the first among more than 50 ICE detention deaths during President Donald Trump’s second term to be ruled an accident. Most others were attributed to natural causes or suicide. Paktiawal legally entered the U.S. after fleeing Afghanistan and had a pending asylum application when ICE agents arrested him outside his Richardson, Texas, home on March 13. ICE said he was targeted for deportation due to pending food stamp fraud and theft charges, although he had not been convicted in either case.
According to an ICE incident report, Paktiawal denied having medical conditions or allergies during intake. However, hours later, he developed chest pain and shortness of breath and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital. The following morning, hospital staff noticed his tongue swelling while he was eating breakfast, administered epinephrine, and attempted lifesaving measures, but he died about 40 minutes later.
The death certificate lists the cause of death as anaphylaxis complicating acute asthma exacerbation, citing the toxic effects of methamphetamine, heart disease, and cigarette smoking as contributing factors. However, Paktiawal’s family disputes that he used methamphetamine, and a private autopsy commissioned by the family could not determine whether the drug was present due to a lack of blood for testing. His wife has also stated that Paktiawal relied on an asthma inhaler, but ICE agents refused to take it when he was arrested.
Dallas County officials have refused to release the autopsy report, arguing that it could interfere with a federal criminal investigation. The county has asked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office for permission to withhold it under a law enforcement exemption to the state’s public records law.
