An Afghan national who served alongside U.S. forces has died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, with his death attributed to an allergic reaction to an unidentified substance, according to his death certificate.
Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, passed away on March 14 at a Dallas hospital, just one day after being detained for deportation proceedings. The certificate indicates that he suffered an "adverse drug reaction" that led to anaphylaxis, worsening his existing asthma condition.
Paktiawal's death has sparked significant outrage, particularly given his history of service with U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan over a decade. His case marks the first among over 50 ICE detention deaths during the Trump administration to be classified as accidental, as most others have been attributed to natural causes or suicide.
Advocacy group AfghanEvac, along with two congressional members, is demanding the release of Paktiawal's autopsy report from Texas authorities, who are withholding it under the premise that its disclosure could compromise an ongoing criminal investigation. Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, emphasized the family's right to understand the circumstances surrounding his death.
"What's happening here smacks of a cover-up," commented Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, who plans to request the Department of Homeland Security to make the autopsy public.
Paktiawal was among thousands evacuated from Afghanistan during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and was seeking asylum in the United States when he was arrested at his home in Richardson, Texas, on March 13. His arrest was linked to allegations of food stamp fraud and theft, although he had not been convicted.
ICE has defended its actions, stating that Paktiawal had denied any medical conditions or allergies during a screening at their Dallas field office. However, shortly after his detention, he began to experience severe shortness of breath and chest pain, necessitating his transfer to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Despite receiving epinephrine treatment for an allergic reaction after hospital staff noted swelling of his tongue, he was pronounced dead approximately 40 minutes later after resuscitation efforts failed.
The death certificate cites the cause of death as "anaphylaxis complicating acute asthma exacerbation," with additional contributing factors including methamphetamine toxicity, heart disease, and cigarette smoking. Family members have expressed disbelief regarding the methamphetamine claim, as a second autopsy could not confirm its presence due to insufficient blood samples for testing.
Paktiawal's brother, Naseer, questioned the circumstances surrounding his sibling's death, demanding clarity and accountability. He recalled Paktiawal’s bravery as a soldier and his hard work in the U.S. to support his family.
Dallas County officials have stated that releasing the autopsy report would interfere with the investigation, echoing previous requests from other counties regarding similar cases. The Texas Attorney General's office has yet to make a determination on this matter.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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