An Afghan immigrant who spent years aiding U.S. forces died in a Texas hospital after being detained by ICE. The case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over how the government handles Afghan allies who helped American troops.

Federal immigration officials described Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal as a “criminal” who had been arrested for alleged fraudulent use of food stamps and for theft, and officials said he had not provided any record of his military service.

The language and timing have drawn sharp questions from advocates who say the government should verify a person’s service before casting them as criminals.

#AfghanEvac, a San Diego‑based group that helps resettle Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the two‑decade war, pushed back against the government’s claims about Paktyawal.

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The group argued that the accounts from federal agencies do not align with the lived reality of many Afghans who risked everything to support American missions.

“Calling a man a criminal without a conviction while claiming there is ‘no record’ of service without checking interagency systems looks less like fact-finding and more like damage control,” said Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac.

“The government should be explaining how a 41-year-old father of six died less than 24 hours after entering ICE custody.”

A cause of death remained pending from the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Paktyawal’s family said he was not ill. “We still cannot understand how this happened.

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He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man. His children keep asking when their father will come home,” the family said in a statement.

Paktyawal was arrested by ICE on Friday. During his medical intake exam at a Dallas ICE field office, he complained of shortness of breath and chest pain, according to Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Lauren Bis.

Paktyawal was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, and on Saturday his tongue became swollen and he received treatment. But later in the morning, medical staff had to perform CPR on him. He was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m. CDT.

“No one in ICE custody is denied access to proper medical care,” Bis said. The agency said the death was under investigation.

U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, who on Monday visited the Dallas ICE field office, said the Department of Homeland Security and ICE have a history “lying and misrepresenting” the background of people they arrest or encounter.

“He was not a violent criminal, as President Trump likes to say when he’s rounding up these folks. He was working as a baker,” said Johnson, a Democrat who represents parts of Dallas County.

“He was providing for his family and contributing to our economy. And so we have a lot of questions of why was this gentleman targeted? Why was he picked up? And why did he die in their custody?”

ICE said Paktyawal had been arrested for committing fraud against SNAP, the government’s largest food aid program, on Sept. 16. ICE also said he had been arrested for theft by Garland police on Nov. 1.

A Dallas County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson said there is an active case regarding SNAP benefits fraud of $200 or more, a third-degree felony, against Paktyawal that had not been resolved.

Police in Garland said Paktyawal was arrested on Nov. 1 after being accused of not paying for groceries and merchandise from a Walmart.

Paktyawal had previously served alongside U.S. military special forces in Afghanistan for a decade and came to the United States following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.

“The U.S. brought him here because of the role Afghans like him played in supporting the American mission,” VanDiver said. Paktyawal, who was married, had been living in Richardson, a Dallas suburb.

Johnson said she had been told by Paktyawal’s family that he had applied for asylum and that his case was pending. She added that ICE agents were claiming Paktyawal had missed asylum appointments.

Deaths in ICE custody have soared in recent years, and the agency has expanded detention capacity in an effort to meet its evolving intake goals.

The policy choices embedded in these actions continue to shape the lives of Afghan families who believed the United States would protect those who stood with Americans in harm’s way.

In the wake of these events, supporters of a robust, decisive approach to immigration say the United States must honor the service of Afghan allies.

They argue that the War Secretary should be empowered to streamline medical and legal processes for those who served with U.S. forces, while President Trump’s broader security agenda emphasizes ensuring accountability and swift, humane handling of all detainees.

The case underscores the need for transparency and strong leadership that protects vulnerable individuals while maintaining national security.

The story remains a stark reminder that those who helped American troops in Afghanistan should not be left behind once they seek safety in the United States.

It also highlights the ongoing work of Afghan veterans and their families to navigate a system many see as inconsistent and opaque.

As the nation debates policy direction and enforcement, the focus remains on safeguarding lives and honoring the commitments made to Afghan allies who stood alongside American service members.

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