Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee who fled genocide in Myanmar for safety in the U.S., was found dead in downtown Buffalo on February 24, 2026. His death occurred five days after he was released from federal custody and left alone at a closed coffee shop.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Timeline of the Tragic Week
- February 19: After a year in the Erie County Holding Center (following a 2025 arrest involving a language/vision misunderstanding), Shah Alam was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.
- The Release: Agents determined he was not deportable. Instead of contacting his family or lawyer—who were waiting for him at the jail—agents dropped him off at a Tim Hortons on Niagara Street around 8:18 PM.
- The Surveillance Video: Footage shows Shah Alam exiting a white Border Patrol van wearing only jail-issued booties and a parka. He is seen walking “gingerly,” pacing in front of the locked doors of the closed restaurant, and eventually disappearing into the night.
- February 24: After being missing for five days in freezing temperatures, his body was discovered on Perry Street near the KeyBank Center, miles from where he was dropped off.
The Controversy: “Inhumane” vs. “Courtesy”
The case has sparked a fierce debate between federal authorities and local leaders:
| Party | Position / Statement |
| CBP / Border Patrol | Claimed they provided a “courtesy ride” to a safe location. They stated he showed “no signs of distress or disabilities” and chose the location himself. |
| Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan | Called the incident a “dereliction of duty” and “unprofessional and inhumane,” noting that dropping a blind, non-English speaking man at a closed shop is a failure of protocol. |
| Family & Attorney | Stated they were never notified of his release. They spent days searching Batavia and Buffalo while he was already missing on the streets. |
Current Status (as of Feb 28, 2026)
- Cause of Death: While initial police reports called the death “health-related” and ruled out homicide, the Erie County Medical Examiner has since clarified that the official cause and manner of death are still under active investigation.
- Legal Action: NY Attorney General Letitia James and Congressman Tim Kennedy have formally called for a state and federal investigation into the Border Patrol’s release protocols for vulnerable individuals.
- Community: Shah Alam was laid to rest on February 26 at Masjid Zakariya, with hundreds from the Buffalo refugee community attending to demand justice.
