March 16 (UPI) -- An Afghan father of six died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Texas less than 24 hours after being detained while seeking asylum.

AfghanEvac, a group that advocates for Afghan allies to the United States, said Sunday that 41-year-old Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal died on Saturday. The cause of his death is unknown.

Paktiawal had no known health issues, his family said.

Rahmanullah Zazy, a family friend, said Paktiawal was surrounded by masked men who handcuffed him in front of his children. Paktiawal was detained by ICE agents on Friday when he was preparing to take his children to school.

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