Near-blind Rohingya refugee found dead after border patrol release

In New York, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee, Nurul Amin Shah Alam, was found dead on February 27, 2026, days after being released by US Border Patrol. Shah Alam, who was nearly blind and medically vulnerable, was reportedly given a "courtesy ride" by agents. He was then left at a Tim Hortons restaurant, located miles away from his home. The circumstances surrounding his death and the Border Patrol's decision to release him at that location have sparked outrage. The incident raises questions about the treatment of vulnerable individuals by border authorities.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, was found dead in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday. He had been missing since February 19, after U.S. Border Patrol agents released him from a county jail and left him at a coffee shop miles from his home. Local authorities and U.S. representatives are criticizing the decision to leave Shah Alam, who was unable to speak English, alone in the city. The Mayor of Buffalo called the action "inhumane" and several officials are calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Shah Alam's family stated they were not informed of his release location.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, was found dead in Buffalo, New York, after being released from US Border Patrol custody. He had been missing since February 19th, when agents dropped him off at a coffee shop following his release from a county jail, where he awaited trial on criminal charges. Shah Alam had pleaded to a misdemeanor. Buffalo police discovered his body on Tuesday evening, and homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances of his death. The Mayor of Buffalo criticized US Customs and Border Protection's decision to leave a vulnerable, non-English speaking man alone on a cold night, calling it "inhumane."

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind 56-year-old Burmese refugee, was found dead in Buffalo, New York, after being released and abandoned by border patrol agents on February 19th. Shah Alam had been in custody for a year following an arrest in 2025 for assault, trespassing, and weapon possession, stemming from an incident where he got lost and was confronted by police. After being released on bail, he was transferred to border patrol and subsequently dropped off at a Tim Hortons without notifying his family or attorney. City officials confirmed homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Shah Alam arrived in Buffalo in December 2024 and is survived by his wife and two sons.