On March 13, 2026, Afghan immigrant Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while preparing to take his children to school. His wife informed ICE agents that Paktiawal required an inhaler to breathe, but she said officers neither took the inhaler nor allowed her to provide it later.

Shortly after arriving at an ICE detention center, Paktiawal began experiencing shortness of breath. He called his brother, Naseer Paktiawal, to alert him to his condition, prompting his brother to report a medical emergency at the detention center. Within 24 hours, the former Afghan National Army Special Operations Command soldier was dead.

Though an autopsy has not been released, a death certificate shared with Reason lists the immediate cause of death as anaphylaxis "complicating acute asthma exacerbation." The certificate states the time and place of injury as 11:30 P.M. on March 12 at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Dallas, nearly 12 hours before his arrest on March 13.

Questions remain regarding toxicology findings on the death certificate, which mention methamphetamine exposure. VanDiver, speaking to Reason, noted that no government agency has explained how Paktiawal could have been exposed to an illicit substance while in ICE custody for less than 24 hours or whether the exposure occurred before or after entering custody.

Paktiawal had previously driven semi trucks before Texas ceased issuing commercial driver's licenses to noncitizens in September 2025. He served alongside American troops in the Special Forces, fighting against the Taliban. His brother, Naseer, said that Paktiawal believed his sacrifices were worthwhile to provide his children a better life than under Taliban rule.

This case has raised concerns about medical care and treatment in ICE detention centers, especially for detainees with known health conditions.

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