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Rohingya refugee found dead in Buffalo after immigration release
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind and non-English-speaking refugee from Myanmar, was discovered deceased in upstate New York on Tuesday, days after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) left him at a closed coffee shop miles from his home.
Timeline of events
Shah Alam was released from federal immigration custody on 19 February and dropped off at a Tim Horton's coffee shop in Buffalo, which had already closed for the night. Surveillance footage obtained by The Washington Post shows him walking past the shop around the time of his release. Temperatures that evening dipped to 36°F (2.2°C).
His body was found on 24 February approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from the coffee shop. A passerby alerted authorities after noticing Shah Alam motionless on the ground, though they had seen him moving three hours earlier. Police are investigating the cause of death, which has not been disclosed.
Circumstances of release
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CBP, stated Shah Alam had accepted a courtesy ride to the coffee shop and exhibited no signs of distress or mobility issues at the time of his release. Officials described the location as "a warm, safe location" closer to his home than the Border Patrol station.
However, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan criticized the handling of Shah Alam's release, calling it "deeply disturbing" and accusing federal agencies of lacking protocols for vulnerable individuals. "They dropped him at a closed coffee shop," Ryan said during a news conference. "Border Patrol, DHS, and ICE don't know what they're doing."
Family and legal background
Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee, entered the US in December 2024. His family, including his son Mohamad Faisal, were not informed of his release or whereabouts. "Nobody told me or my family or attorney where my dad was dropped off," Faisal told Reuters.
Prior to his death, Shah Alam had been in local police custody for nearly a year following an incident in which two officers were injured. He was arrested after allegedly refusing to drop a curtain rod he was using as a walking stick while lost in Buffalo. Body-camera footage shows officers deploying tasers after he failed to comply with commands. Shah Alam reached a plea deal and was released on bail before federal immigration authorities placed a detainer on him.
CBP released Shah Alam after determining he had entered the US as a refugee and could not be legally deported, according to Reuters.
Calls for investigation
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced her office is reviewing "legal options" in response to Shah Alam's death. "No one who comes here seeking refuge should be left in harm's way," she said in a statement. "Nurul Amin Shah Alam fled genocide and came to this country in search of safety and opportunity. Instead, his life was tragically cut short."
Local officials and Shah Alam's family are demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his release and death. The BBC has reached out to CBP for comment but has not yet received a response.
