Visually Impaired Refugee Found Deceased in Buffalo Days After Border Patrol Release

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old visually impaired Rohingya refugee, was found deceased in Buffalo, New York, on February 24, days after being released by U.S. Border Patrol agents at a coffee shop. His death has prompted calls for an investigation and accountability from local and state officials, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintains agents offered a "courtesy ride" to a safe location, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied responsibility.

Discovery and Medical Findings

Nurul Amin Shah Alam's body was discovered on a street in Buffalo on the evening of Tuesday, February 24, approximately four miles from where he was dropped off by Border Patrol. Local temperatures at the time were reported to be approximately -6 degrees Celsius (21 Fahrenheit). The Erie County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy, determining the cause of death was health-related. Exposure and homicide were ruled out as causes of death. The Buffalo Police Department had previously sought public assistance to locate Shah Alam after he was reported missing by his family two days prior to the discovery of his body.

Border Patrol Release Circumstances

Shah Alam's disappearance began on February 19 when he was transferred from the Erie County Sheriff's Department (also referred to as Erie County jail or Holding Center) to U.S. Border Patrol custody. This transfer occurred due to an existing immigration detainer after he had posted bail following a plea deal for prior charges. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly declined to detain or deport Shah Alam.

CBP stated that Border Patrol agents offered Shah Alam a "courtesy ride" to a coffee shop, which they described as a "warm, safe location near his last known address." This location, identified by one source as a Tim Hortons on Niagara Street, was reportedly chosen over a direct release from a Border Patrol station. CBP added that Shah Alam "showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance" upon release.

CBP stated that Border Patrol agents offered Shah Alam a "courtesy ride" to a coffee shop, which they described as a "warm, safe location near his last known address."

However, Shah Alam's family had relocated months earlier, and his family and attorney reported not being informed of his drop-off location. One source stated the coffee shop was closed for the day with only the drive-thru operational. Video footage reportedly shows Shah Alam, wearing jail-issued orange booties, walking through the parking lot after being left at the location. Shah Alam was found deceased five to six days after this release.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam: Background and Prior Custody

Shah Alam was a Rohingya refugee from Burma (Myanmar) who was visually impaired and did not speak English. His family noted he did not read, write, or use electronic devices and lacked money or a phone.

Sources indicate Shah Alam arrived in the United States as a refugee on December 24, 2024. However, one source states he had resided in Buffalo for 15 months.

He had faced criminal charges stemming from an arrest on February 15, 2025, by Buffalo Police, after he became lost and was found on private property, using a curtain rod as a walking stick. Police reports indicated charges including assault, trespassing, and weapons possession. Police tasered him when he did not drop the rod. His family noted his illiteracy and inability to understand officers' commands, with bodycam footage reportedly showing him speaking in Rohingya and Malay, asking for help.

While some reports state he spent much of the preceding year or subsequent year in jail following this arrest, others specify his arrest date as February 2025, shortly after his U.S. arrival in December 2024, leading to his release from jail on February 19. His wife, Fatimah Abdul Roshid, stated his health declined in jail, including significant weight loss and worsening eyesight. His attorney and family reportedly opted against bailing him out due to concerns that ICE might detain or deport him.

Shah Alam's family described their journey as Rohingya refugees, fleeing persecution in Myanmar to Malaysia, and eventually to the United States in December 2024. His wife stated he became depressed in Buffalo due to the cold climate and the absence of his three eldest sons, who remained in Malaysia while their refugee applications were processed separately.

Official Responses and Calls for Investigation

Following the discovery of Shah Alam's body:

• Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan described the death as "deeply disturbing and a dereliction of duty" by Border Patrol, characterizing it as "preventable."

  "A vulnerable individual, who was nearly blind and unable to speak English, was left alone in cold winter conditions without apparent efforts to ensure a safe location." Mayor Ryan called the decision by U.S. Customs and Border Protection "unprofessional and inhumane" and requested accountability from the agency.

• New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for accountability and an independent investigation into the incident.

  "A blind father was released from federal custody and left alone on the street to find his way home. He never made it back to his family." She added, "No one should disappear at the hands of the government."

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledged Shah Alam's death as tragic but denied responsibility.

  On X, DHS stated: "It is ridiculous to blame Border Patrol for an individual’s death a week after their last interaction with them."

• Members of Congress, including Buffalo Rep. Tim Kennedy and Rep. Grace Meng (Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus), have called for state and federal investigations. Rep. Kennedy requested New York State Attorney General Letitia James open an investigation and demanded answers from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, while Rep. Meng called for accountability from DHS.

Shah Alam's wife, Fatimah Abdul Roshid, expressed profound grief and stated that for her, justice would mean being reunited with her sons and other family members still in Malaysia.