Authorities have ruled that the death of Nurul Amin Shah, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, was a homicide. Shah died on 24 February, five days after US border patrol agents left him in the parking lot of a Tim Hortons in Buffalo on a cold winter night without notifying his family or attorney.
The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death was “complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration”. The office clarified that for death certification purposes, “homicide” refers to a death resulting from the actions of another person, including negligent acts or omissions, and does not imply intent to cause harm or establish criminal liability.
Shah, who was visually impaired, had resettled in Buffalo in December 2024 with his wife and two sons after fleeing persecution in Myanmar. On 15 February 2025, he was arrested after becoming disoriented and entering a resident's backyard. On 19 February, Erie County authorities transferred him to border patrol custody. After several hours, agents dropped him at a Tim Hortons parking lot at about 8.18pm. He was found dead five days later, about four miles away.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who opened a formal investigation in March, said: “Mr Shah Alam fled genocide to build a life in this country. Instead, he was abandoned and left to suffer alone in his final hours.” The Erie County District Attorney's Office has requested the autopsy report and will review the findings. The Department of Homeland Security denied any responsibility, calling the ruling “another hoax”.
