Criminal illegal alien from Afghanistan with previous arrests for fraud and theft passes away at Texas hospital

DALLAS - Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, a criminal illegal alien from Afghanistan, passed away March 14 at the Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. A physician at the hospital declared Paktiawal deceased at 9:10 a.m. Central Daylight Time. He had been in ICE custody for one day. His passing is currently under active investigation.

Paktiawal has a known criminal history including an arrest by local authorities for SNAP fraud, a felony, on Sept. 16, 2025. He was arrested a second time for theft on Nov. 1, 2025.

ICE arrested Paktiawal March 13 during a targeted enforcement action and placed him into immigration proceedings. At the time of arrest and processing, he did not report any prior medical history.

In the late evening of March 13, ICE contacted Emergency Medical Services when Paktiawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains while in an ICE Dallas Field Office processing hold room. He was immediately transported to Parkland Hospital and received breathing treatment. The ER doctor recommended that he remain in the hospital for observation.

Early March 14, Paktiawal was eating breakfast when medical staff noted that his tongue had become swollen, prompting a medical response. After multiple lifesaving efforts were attempted, he was declared deceased at 9:10 a.m.

ICE notified his next of kin and the Consulate of Afghanistan in Toronto, Canada, of Paktiawal's death on March 14.

Paktiawal entered the United States at Washington Dulles International Airport, Maryland Aug. 21, 2021 and was paroled into the U.S. by an immigration officer. The duration of his parole expired Aug. 20, 2025.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. ERO will coordinate appropriate consular notifications in accordance with international and domestic laws and will make efforts to notify Paktiawal's next of kin or other designated contact.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov's Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov's Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.