Arabic version: فتح تحقيق بعد العثور على لاجئ كفيف ميت في نيويورك
A nearly-blind, non-English-speaking refugee from Myanmar has been found dead in upstate New York after being released from federal immigration custody. Nurul Amin Shah Alam was discovered on February 24, just days after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) dropped him off at a coffee shop in Buffalo, where temperatures had plunged below freezing. According to BBC News, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan described Shah Alam’s death as “deeply disturbing” and has called for an investigation into the incident.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Shah Alam accepted a courtesy ride to the coffee shop, which was deemed a “warm, safe location” closer to his home than the Border Patrol station. However, video footage from outside the Tim Horton’s coffee shop, timestamped February 19, shows Shah Alam walking by the establishment without entering, raising questions about his well-being after being dropped off.
Authorities reported that he was found nearly six miles from the coffee shop, with a passerby alerting police after spotting him unresponsive. His cause of death remains undisclosed, and the Buffalo Police Department is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding his passing. Shah Alam had been in local police custody for almost a year on assault and weapons charges before being released on bail.
Shah Alam’s family expressed that they were not informed of his release location, highlighting a lack of communication from immigration authorities. Mayor Ryan criticized the handling of Shah Alam’s case, stating that federal agencies did not have protocols in place for assisting disabled individuals who do not speak English. New York Attorney General Letitia James has also stated that her office is reviewing legal options regarding the incident, emphasizing that refugees seeking safety should not be left vulnerable.
Local officials continue to call for answers as the investigation unfolds, with Shah Alam’s tragic death igniting discussions about the treatment of refugees within the immigration system.
