The body of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, a nearly blind Myanmar refugee, was discovered by Buffalo police on a downtown street Tuesday evening. He had been missing since February 19, following his transfer to the U.S. Border Patrol.
A Buffalo Police Department spokesperson stated that homicide detectives are actively investigating the circumstances of Mr. Shah Alam's death. The incident occurred as temperatures in Buffalo dropped below freezing over the weekend.
According to information from his family and the Erie County District Attorney's Office, Mr. Shah Alam was arrested a year ago following an incident that resulted in minor injuries to two Buffalo police officers. He accepted a misdemeanor plea deal and was released on bail this month. After his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request to take custody of him after his detention ended.
The Erie County Sheriff's Office contacted U.S. Border Patrol before releasing Mr. Shah Alam. In a statement to the Investigative Post, Border Patrol claimed agents drove him to a coffee shop deemed a warm and safe location near his former residence, rather than releasing him directly at the station. The agency also asserted that he did not exhibit distress or mobility limitations requiring special assistance at that time.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan harshly criticized the decision, calling it an inhumane act. Ryan emphasized that leaving a nearly blind man who does not speak English alone on a freezing night is unacceptable.
His son, Mohamad Faisal, said the family received no information regarding the release location. Faisal shared that his father could not read, did not use electronic devices, and only wished to return home to his family, members of the Arakan Rohingya community.
Currently, the cause of death for Nurul Amin Shah Alam is awaiting forensic results. The incident has raised many questions regarding the procedures and accountability of authorities when handling immigrants in vulnerable situations.
