An investigation is under way after a nearly blind Burmese refugee was found dead in Buffalo, New York, following his abandonment by border patrol agents. Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, had been missing since 19 February, when he was dropped off by border patrol after his release from the Erie county holding centre, according to the Investigative Post.
City hall spokesperson Ian Ott told the Investigative Post that homicide detectives were investigating the circumstances and timeframe of events leading up to his death following his release from custody. Shah Alam had been held at the Erie county facility for the past year, after being arrested by Buffalo police in 2025 on charges of assault, trespassing and possession of a weapon. The arrest stemmed from an incident in which Shah Alam, who was using a curtain rod as a walking stick, became lost during a walk and ended up on a woman's porch. Police were called, and when he failed to drop the rod, he was Tasered and beaten, according to his attorney.
Shah Alam was released on bail and subsequently transferred to border patrol custody. Agents then dropped him off at a Tim Hortons about five miles from his home, without notifying his attorney or family.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo expressed sadness in a statement, confirming that their client was found deceased. The organisation said it had received several inquiries but was unable to provide further comment due to ethical obligations. A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection, Michael Niezgoda, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shah Alam had arrived in Buffalo in December 2024, 15 months before his death. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
