Buffalo Police Probe Death of Nearly Blind Rohingya Refugee Left at Cafeteria by Border Patrol

Overview

• Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, was reported missing on February 19 and was found dead five days later about 6.4 km from the Tim Hortons where agents left him.
• The Erie County medical examiner attributed the death to health-related causes and ruled out homicide and substance exposure, as homicide detectives examine the sequence of events after his release.
• Customs and Border Protection said agents determined he entered the U.S. as a refugee and was not deportable, then provided a courtesy ride to a nearby cafeteria they deemed warm and safe.
• CBP stated he showed no signs of distress or disabilities requiring special assistance, a stance criticized by Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan as unprofessional, inhumane, and preventable.
• Erie County jail officials alerted CBP due to a prior immigration detainer before finalizing his release; the nearly blind, non‑English speaker’s family says they were not told where he was left as subfreezing weather set in.