U.S. Muslim Group Calls For Probe After Afghan Ex-Soldier Dies In ICE Custody

In a statement issued Sunday, the organization said anyone taken into detention must be treated with dignity and respect, urging authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The advocacy group also asked U.S. officials to conduct a transparent inquiry into both the reason for the detention and the circumstances that led to the soldier's death.

The group AfghanEvac reported that the former Afghan serviceman, Nazir Paktiyawal, died in a hospital after being detained by U.S. immigration authorities.

The reason for his detention and the exact cause of death have not yet been publicly clarified by officials. Paktiyawal, 41, was reportedly detained Friday morning outside his home while preparing his children for school before being taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities.

Shortly after his detention, he informed relatives that he was feeling unwell and was later transferred to a hospital in Dallas, where he died hours later.

Many former Afghan soldiers who worked alongside U.S. forces were evacuated to the United States after the collapse of the former Afghan government in 2021 and are still navigating complex immigration processes.

Advocacy groups say detentions of Afghan asylum seekers have increased in recent weeks as immigration enforcement measures have intensified.

The calls for an investigation reflect growing concern among migrant rights groups over the treatment and legal status of Afghan evacuees currently living in the United States.

MENAFN16032026000228011069ID1110865502