The family of Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, an Afghan veteran who served with U.S. troops, is demanding the release of an autopsy report following his death in ICE custody.
The case highlights growing concerns over the treatment of former allies in U.S. detention facilities and the transparency of federal investigations into custodial deaths.
Paktiawal died less than 24 hours after being taken into ICE custody [1]. An autopsy report listed the cause of death as "accidental" [2], but the family has not been granted full access to the findings.
The situation has escalated as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly asked the district attorney to keep the investigation sealed. This request has led the family and their representatives to question the agency's motives, suggesting a lack of transparency regarding the circumstances of the death.
Shawn VanDiver questioned the agency's legal strategy regarding the case's visibility. "It's awfully odd that ICE is asking for the DA to keep this case sealed," VanDiver said.
The family continues to seek a public accounting of the events leading up to the death. They argue that the "accidental" classification in the autopsy [2] does not provide sufficient detail to explain how a veteran died so shortly after being detained [1].
“"It's awfully odd that ICE is asking for the DA to keep this case sealed."”
This case underscores the legal and ethical tensions surrounding the detention of foreign nationals who provided military assistance to the U.S. government. By seeking to seal the investigation, ICE risks fueling allegations of a cover-up, while the rapid timeline from detention to death raises critical questions about medical screening and safety protocols within federal immigration facilities.
