56-year-old blind Rohingya refugee released by CBP found dead in Buffalo

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old refugee from Myanmar who family members described as nearly blind and non-English-speaking, was dropped off by U.S. Border Patrol at a coffee or doughnut shop on Feb. 19 and found dead in Buffalo on Feb. 24, prompting demands for an independent investigation.

Federal agents say they offered Shah Alam a ride after local authorities notified Border Patrol as his release from county custody was processed. CBP said Shah Alam "entered the U.S. as a refugee in December 2024" and "was not amenable to removal" and that he chose to be taken to a nearby coffee shop that agents considered "a warm, safe location near his last known address." The agency added that he "showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance."

Family members contest that account. Mohamad Faisal, one of Shah Alam's children, said, "Nobody told me or my family or attorney where my dad was dropped off." Local leaders and advocates have sharply criticized the decision to release a person described by relatives as almost blind into public streets at night.

City officials say Shah Alam's body was discovered on the first block of Perry Street after a passerby called 911 shortly after 8:30 p.m. Exact distance between the coffee shop and the location where he was found varies in early accounts, with figures reported at roughly four to six miles. Police say homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances and timeline leading up to his death.

There is a dispute over the autopsy status. A Buffalo city spokesperson said the Erie County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and determined Shah Alam's cause of death was health-related, with exposure and homicide ruled out. Officials at the medical examiner's office have declined to release cause-of-death details pending completion of records, creating a discrepancy that investigators and the family expect to resolve publicly.

Mayor Sean Ryan called the case "deeply disturbing" and said, "A vulnerable man - nearly blind and unable to speak English - was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location. That decision from US Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane." New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged accountability, saying, "a blind father was released from federal custody and left alone on the street to find his way home. He never made it back to his family." She added, "No one should disappear at the hands of the government."

Local records show Shah Alam had been held in the Erie County Holding Center on charges tied to a prior incident before reaching a plea deal and posting bail. Relatives said they had feared bailing him out because of an immigration detainer. Reports indicate he was wearing orange booties issued by the holding center when he left custody.

The case has immediate local consequences and wider diplomatic resonance. It raises questions about how U.S. immigration and law enforcement agencies assess and protect vulnerable refugees, including those identifying as Rohingya, a persecuted minority from Myanmar. Family members and state officials have called for a full, independent review of Border Patrol practices and of records including release logs, surveillance footage and the medical examiner's report to establish the facts and ensure accountability.