Buffalo, NY – In a disturbing incident, Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind refugee from Burma, has been found dead in the city. The 56-year-old Rohingya refugee was released by US Border Patrol agents on February 19, who dropped him off at a Tim Hortons in the Black Rock neighborhood, 5 miles away from his home, leaving him to find his way.
According to City Hall spokesperson Ian Ott, Shah Alam’s body was discovered by B District officers on the first block of Perry Street at around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death has been initiated by the homicide detectives.
Shah Alam had been in custody at the Erie County Holding Center since February 2025 after being arrested by Buffalo police for charges including assault, trespassing, and possession of a weapon. The refugee, who was nearly blind and had limited English proficiency, was released on bail after agreeing to a plea deal with the Erie County District Attorney’s office, which allowed him to “clear” the immigration detainer.
However, the Border Patrol agents did not notify Shah Alam’s family or his attorney, Benjamin Macaluso, of his release to the coffee shop. Macaluso had previously expected Shah Alam to be taken to the ICE detention center in Batavia and had opened a missing persons case with Buffalo police on Sunday after the family spent three days searching for him.
Shah Alam’s death has sent shockwaves through the Rohingya refugee community, with advocate Imran Fazel expressing frustration and devastation. “We never thought anyone would experience anything like this since coming to the United States,” Fazel said. “It doesn’t make me feel safe in a country like this.”
The investigation into Shah Alam’s death is ongoing, with the cause of death determined by the medical examiner to be “health-related in nature.”
