Afghan Asylum Seeker Dies in US ICE Custody, Rights Group Demands Investigation
DID Press: Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for a full and transparent investigation into the death of an Afghan asylum seeker who died after being detained by US immigration authorities.
The organization said the man, identified as Nazir Paktiawal, was arrested by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside his home on March 13 after dropping his children off at school.
According to information shared with family members and the Afghan community, Paktiawal reportedly experienced serious medical complications the same night while in custody. Authorities informed his family the following day, March 14, that he had died.
Before leaving Afghanistan, Paktiawal had served alongside U.S. special forces. After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, he entered the United States as a refugee.
Paktiawal was a father of several children and a well-known member of the Afghan community in Dallas.
Mustafa Carroll, executive director of the group’s Dallas office, expressed condolences to the family, noting that the incident occurred during the final days of Ramadan, a period when Muslims emphasize justice and compassion.
Carroll said detention should never result in the loss of human dignity and that every detainee must be treated with safety, respect and dignity.
The organization also criticized the response of ICE, saying the agency’s statement focused largely on Paktiawal’s past allegations and immigration status rather than addressing concerns about his death in government custody.
Meanwhile, Imran Ghani called for government accountability and independent oversight of immigration detention facilities. The organization urged lawmakers to support measures such as the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act to improve transparency and ensure humane standards in detention centers.
CAIR stressed that deaths in government custody require independent investigation and meaningful accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.