A refugee from Myanmar, nearly blind and missing since being released by a Buffalo, N.Y., jail to U.S. Border Patrol, was discovered dead on a downtown street, authorities announced. Police in Buffalo found the body of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, on Tuesday evening after he had been missing since Feb. 19. U.S. Border Patrol agents left him at a coffee shop miles away from his residence following his release from a county jail, where he had been awaiting trial.
The circumstances of Shah Alam’s death are under investigation by homicide detectives. Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan criticized federal immigration authorities for their “inhumane” decision-making, stating that leaving a vulnerable and visually impaired individual alone on a cold night was preventable. In response, a CBP spokesperson mentioned that Shah Alam was dropped off at a coffee shop near his address as he could not be deported, showing no signs of distress.
Shah Alam had been arrested a year ago after an incident involving minor injuries to two Buffalo police officers. He was released on bail recently after agreeing to a plea deal. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Shah Alam was issued an immigration detainer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following his arrest.
Prior to Shah Alam’s release, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office contacted U.S. Border Patrol in response to the immigration detainer. Shah Alam’s son explained that his father’s arrest stemmed from a misunderstanding with the police due to his limited English proficiency. Upon his release, Shah Alam’s family and attorney were not informed of his whereabouts. According to a Buffalo-area immigration lawyer, families are not always notified when adults are released from custody.
Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee, entered the U.S. on Dec. 24, 2024, according to CBP statements to the media. Myanmar has faced allegations of genocide in connection to a military-led offensive in 2017 that displaced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. Many Rohingya refugees have been residing in camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where conditions have reportedly worsened following cuts in humanitarian aid during the Trump administration.