Nearly Blind Refugee Found Dead in Buffalo After Release by U.S. Border Patrol

A tragic end befell a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar who was left to fend for himself by U.S. immigration services after his release from custody. The body of 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam was found on a street in Buffalo, New York, on the evening of February 25. The man had gone missing six days earlier, on February 19, after agents of the U.S. Border Patrol left him at a cafe located several kilometers from his residence. His family was not informed. Buffalo Mayor, Democrat Sean Ryan, strongly condemned the actions of the federal authorities. In an official statement, he stated that the death was preventable and the result of "inhumane" decision-making. "A defenseless man – nearly blind and not speaking English – was left alone on a cold winter night, without any attempt to place him in a safe, secure location," Ryan stated. He added that the decision by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional. City Hall spokesperson Ian Ott confirmed that detectives from the homicide division are investigating the circumstances of the death. According to press reports, Shah Alam, a refugee of Rohingya origin, spent most of the last year in the Erie County holding center. He was placed there after being arrested in 2025 by Buffalo police. He was charged with assault, trespassing, and weapons possession. Sources indicate the arrest resulted from an incident where the man got lost while walking and entered the porch of a woman's house. It was reported that he had previously used a curtain rod as a cane to move around. Ultimately, Shah Alam reached a plea deal, admitting to a misdemeanor. The humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya people in Myanmar intensified dramatically in 2017 following military operations that forced hundreds of thousands to flee, mainly to Bangladesh. Many Rohingya attempt to seek asylum in third countries, including the United States, where asylum and immigration procedures can be lengthy and complex. The case of Shah Alam's death sheds light on the practices of U.S. immigration services regarding the handling of refugees and individuals with special needs after release from custody. The lack of a procedure to ensure safe transport or contact with family for a disabled and linguistically non-communicative person raises serious concerns about human rights protection standards. The investigation aims to establish the exact sequence of events and cause of death, although Mayor Ryan already points to a direct link to the decisions of federal agents.