Death of Afghan National in ICE Custody Ruled Accidental by Medical Examiner

Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, a 41-year-old Afghan national, died from an allergic reaction while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just one day after his arrest for deportation proceedings. His death, which occurred on March 14 at a Dallas hospital, was ruled an accident by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office. The cause of death was identified as anaphylaxis complicating acute asthma exacerbation, triggered by an unidentified substance.

Paktiawal had previously fought alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan and was in the process of seeking asylum in the United States when he was detained at his home in Richardson, Texas, on March 13. His case has drawn significant attention and calls for transparency, as advocacy group AfghanEvac and two members of Congress have urged Texas authorities to release his autopsy report, which is currently withheld due to a pending criminal investigation. ICE has defended its actions, citing prior arrests for food stamp fraud and theft, although Paktiawal had not been convicted of any crimes.