Particle.news

After Buffalo Refugee’s Death, New York Lawmakers Advance Immigrant Protections

State leaders are preparing bills to curb local help with civil immigration enforcement in response to how federal agents released the nearly blind Rohingya man.

Overview

  • Senators are assembling a package that includes a version of the New York for All Act to block informal cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement and limit access to nonpublic government areas without a warrant.
  • Plans under discussion would also ban local jails from holding people for immigration detention, prohibit agents from wearing masks, and expand New Yorkers’ ability to sue immigration agents.
  • Gov. Kathy Hochul urged quick passage of her proposals to ban 287(g) agreements and restrict civil enforcement in sensitive locations, and Senate leaders said a formal proposal could be released within a week.
  • Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee who was almost completely blind and spoke little English, was found dead on Feb. 24 after Border Patrol agents had dropped him at a closed Tim Hortons; Buffalo police say the cause of death has not been made public and the investigation continues.
  • CBP said Shah Alam accepted a “courtesy ride” and showed no visible distress at drop-off, while Buffalo’s mayor denounced the handling of the release and reaffirmed the city’s stance against cooperating with federal immigration authorities.