A 56-year-old Rohingya refugee was found dead in Buffalo, New York, days after U.S. Border Patrol agents released him in a public area without notifying his family or attorney, authorities and local media report. The incident has ignited criticism from local officials and refugee advocates, raising questions about federal procedures for handling vulnerable migrants.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Burmese refugee who was nearly blind and unable to speak English, was discovered dead on Perry Street in downtown Buffalo on Tuesday evening, Buffalo Police confirmed. He had been missing since Feb. 19, when Border Patrol agents picked him up after his release from the Erie County Holding Center and dropped him off at a Tim Hortons coffee shop roughly five miles from his home. Neither his family nor his attorney was informed of the location or timing of his release.
Shah Alam had arrived in the United States as a refugee in late 2024 and spent over a year in custody following a 2025 arrest stemming from a misunderstanding with local police. According to reports, he became disoriented while walking, carried a curtain rod as a walking aid, did not understand police commands, and was subsequently arrested. He later entered a plea deal in his criminal case that allowed for bail, prompting his release.
City Hall officials say homicide detectives are investigating the events leading up to his death. The Erie County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as “health-related in nature,” with exposure and homicide ruled out. Details on what precisely led to his death have not yet been fully disclosed.
Border Patrol officials have defended their actions, stating that Shah Alam “chose to accept” what they termed a “courtesy ride” to a nearby coffee shop they believed was a safe, warm location near his last known address. They also maintained he showed no visible signs of distress or disability requiring special assistance.
The news of Shah Alam’s death comes amid broader scrutiny of U.S. immigration enforcement practices. While much national discussion has focused on border crossings and enforcement statistics — including historically low numbers of apprehensions along the U.S.–Mexico frontier under current federal policies — cases involving individual migrants and treatment by federal agents continue to draw intense public attention. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show significant declines in illegal border crossings and encounters compared with previous administrations, a point frequently cited by policymakers and political advocates.
However, human rights groups and local leaders have criticized enforcement tactics that they argue can overlook humanitarian concerns, particularly for migrants with disabilities or language barriers. Crimes and incidents involving migrants and law enforcement, including fatal encounters and procedural controversies, have been reported in multiple U.S. jurisdictions, underscoring the complex challenges at the intersection of immigration control and human rights.
In Buffalo, the reaction from city officials has been particularly forceful. Mayor Sean Ryan called Shah Alam’s death “preventable” and criticized federal authorities for what he described as an “unprofessional and inhumane” decision that put a vulnerable man at risk. Local advocates stress the need for clearer protocols when releasing individuals with disabilities into communities, especially during cold weather conditions.
The tragic death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam highlights the ongoing tensions between enforcement policies and humanitarian responsibilities in U.S. immigration operations. While federal agencies emphasize procedural compliance and public safety, critics argue that individual cases like this reveal gaps in protocols for protecting vulnerable people. As investigations proceed, this incident may prompt renewed calls for policy reviews and reforms to better ensure that migration enforcement respects both legal and human dignity standards.
