Call for Investigation into Afghan Refugee’s Alarming Death in ICE Custody

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Texas is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the suspicious death of Nazir Pakhtiyawal, an Afghan refugee and former collaborator with U.S. special forces, who died just one day after his arrest by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Demand for a Transparent Inquiry into the Afghan Refugee’s Death

CAIR officially requested an independent and thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the suspicious death of an Afghan refugee in ICE custody. The civil rights organization stressed the need for serious reevaluation of how refugees are treated and the adequacy of medical care within detention facilities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Details Surrounding Nazir Pakhtiyawal’s Arrest and Death in Dallas

Reports indicate that Nazir Pakhtiyawal, an Afghan refugee residing in Dallas, was apprehended by ICE agents outside his home shortly after dropping his children off at school on March 13 of this year. Family sources reveal that he faced severe health issues inside the detention center that same night, and just one day after his arrest, on March 14, authorities informed his family of his death. The rapidity of this tragedy has raised many questions among civil rights organizations and his relatives.

Background of Service with U.S. Special Forces

Nazir Pakhtiyawal was a well-known figure in the Afghan community in Texas, having a military cooperation background with the United States. For years, he served alongside U.S. special forces in Afghanistan and, following the fall of the democratic government and the return of the Taliban in August 2021, he was relocated to the United States due to security threats. A father of several young children, Pakhtiyawal sought asylum in America hoping for a safe life, but his fate was sealed in detention.

Public Outcry for Accountability from U.S. Officials

Legal and civil rights officials in Texas have expressed that the death of any individual during governmental custody necessitates investigations beyond internal reports from the relevant agencies. They believe overlooking the health conditions of refugees in detention centers could have irrevocable consequences. Currently, the Afghan community in Dallas and human rights activists are awaiting clear accountability from ICE officials regarding the true cause of this former U.S. military collaborator’s death.