HOUSTON (AP) — An Afghan immigrant whose family said had worked with U.S. forces in his home country died at a Texas hospital after having been detained by immigration authorities, according to officials.

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, died at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on Saturday, a day after having been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A cause of death is still pending. However, Paktyawal’s family has stated that he was not ill prior to his detention.

“We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man. His children keep asking when their father will come home,” the family said in a statement.

In a statement, ICE revealed that Paktyawal was arrested for committing fraud against SNAP, the government’s largest food assistance program, on September 16. They also reported that he had been arrested for theft previously.

Paktyawal was apprehended during a targeted operation, and at the time of his detention, he did not report any medical issues, according to ICE.

He began experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains while in an ICE field office processing hold room on Friday night, after which he was taken to Parkland Hospital where he received treatment and was held overnight.

On Saturday morning, staff noticed that Paktyawal's tongue had swollen while he was having breakfast. Medical staff attempted multiple lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m., according to ICE.

“His passing is currently under active investigation,” ICE stated.

Paktyawal had previously served alongside U.S. military special forces in Afghanistan and became a refugee in the U.S. following the U.S. troop withdrawal and Taliban takeover in August 2021, according to #AfghanEvac, an organization that assists Afghans who supported the U.S. military.

He had resided in Richardson, Texas with his family while awaiting the outcome of his asylum case. Paktyawal leaves behind a wife and six children.

Deaths in ICE custody have surged during Trump’s second term, highlighting a troubling pattern.

ICE has reported 14 custody deaths from the start of this fiscal year on October 1 through January 6, indicating a possible increase from the previous year’s count of 24. Moreover, custody numbers have escalated from about 40,000 to over 70,000, with plans to expand capacity to 92,600 beds by the end of November, including large warehouse conversions.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on social media: @juanlozano70