Blind Refugee Found Dead After Border Patrol Abandonment in Buffalo
Surveillance footage obtained by the Buffalo-based nonprofit Investigative Post has revealed that Border Patrol agents abandoned a nearly blind Burmese refugee days before he was discovered deceased on Tuesday. This evidence directly contradicts official government statements regarding the treatment of 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam.
Details of the Abandonment
Shah Alam was released from the Erie County Holding Center on February 19 after spending nearly a year awaiting trial on criminal charges, ultimately accepting a plea deal. Immediately following his release, Border Patrol took him into custody based on an immigration detainer. However, agents quickly determined he was not eligible for deportation.
That same night, according to the surveillance video, agents left Shah Alam at a Tim Hortons coffee shop located five miles from his residence and drove away in a white van. Shah Alam, who spoke no English, was blind in one eye and had severely impaired vision in the other.
A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told Investigative Post that agents provided Shah Alam with a ride to what they "determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address." Investigative Post reported that the restaurant was closed except for its drive-thru window, with temperatures below freezing. Agents also failed to notify his family of his release.
"Nobody told me or my family or attorney where my dad was dropped off," Mohamad Faisal, one of Shah Alam's children, told Reuters.
Discovery and Aftermath
Shah Alam was found dead five days later near KeyBank Center, a sports arena. The Associated Press noted it remains unclear how he reached that location or the precise time of his death.
Prior to his discovery, family and friends had circulated missing person flyers describing Shah Alam as having "back problems, difficulty walking, and is in poor health." The flyer further stated, "He is not able to use a phone and does not know phone numbers or addresses."
His cause of death is under investigation. While Buffalo Police initially stated the medical examiner found the death to be "health-related," the Erie County Department of Health later clarified that no final determination has been made.
Family and Political Response
A spokesperson for Shah Alam's family expressed that the family does "not want his death to just go to waste."
"We want his death to bring awareness to his community, his family, his community at large. We want his name, his story to be a voice for those who are still suffering," Khaleda Shah said during the man's funeral, according to AP.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for an "immediate independent investigation."
"Border Patrol took a nearly blind father, barely able to communicate, and seemingly abandoned him in the cold far from his home without telling his loved ones. My heart breaks for Nurul Amin Shah Alam's family," Schumer said in a social media post. "He should be alive — and this should have never happened. Alam's family deserves answers from ICE and CBP and we must have an immediate independent investigation."
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) echoed Schumer, stating, "New Yorkers deserve answers and accountability."
Background of the Case
Buffalo police arrested Shah Alam last year after he ended up on a woman's porch during a walk and allegedly did not drop a curtain rod he was using as a walking stick. The police report claimed Shah Alam caused minor injuries to officers.
One officer alleged that Shah Alam intended to harm police, an accusation disputed by his attorney, who told Investigative Post his client was merely startled in the moment.
This tragic incident raises renewed concerns about the conduct of federal immigration agents, occurring within the context of broader immigration enforcement efforts.
