09/03/2026
The death of Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, a special forces soldier who fought alongside the U.S. military in America's longest war in Afghanistan is more than tragic. It is a travesty. He was detained in March by ICE -- and died 24 hours after being taken into custody.
Nazeer was in the U.S. legally, provided with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), which was created to ensure that those who served alongside U.S. forces and diplomats would be provided with protection in the U.S. After the fall of Afghanistan, he and his family were evacuated by the U.S. in August 2021.
He leaves behind a wife and six children, who are mourning his loss.
The U.S. made a promise to men like Nazeer -- that we would stand with them if they stood with us. We broke that promise to him.