The death of a Rohingya refugee in Buffalo, New York, has raised urgent questions about how federal immigration brokers dealt with his launch from their custody – and what occurred in the 5 days he was lacking earlier than his physique was discovered.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, who spoke little English and was almost blind, was launched from the Erie County Holding Center on February 19. Border Patrol brokers briefly took custody of him on an immigration detainer earlier than figuring out he shouldn’t be deported and, later that night time, dropped him at a closed espresso home alone in close to freezing temperatures. His physique was discovered on February 24, about 4 miles away.
US Customs and Border Protection has defended the brokers’ actions, however native and state leaders are calling for investigations.
Meanwhile, Shah Alam’s family and friends gathered at a mosque Thursday for his funeral, providing prayers earlier than accompanying him to a cemetery for burial.
“We do not want his death to just go to waste,” Khaleda Shah, a spokesperson for the household, advised the Associated Press. “We want his death to bring awareness to his community, his family, his community at large. We want his name, his story to be a voice for those who are still suffering.”
The case comes amid rising considerations about the constitutional protections and treatment of people that come into contact with federal immigration authorities, no matter their immigration standing, below the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts.
Here’s what we know – and don’t know – about his death:
Shah Alam entered the US as a refugee on December 24, 2024, in keeping with US Customs and Border Protection. He and his household are Arakan Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar that the US authorities has mentioned was subjected to genocide.
Shah Alam beforehand labored in building in Malaysia and got here to the US together with his spouse and two kids, looking for alternative, Imran Fazal, who is aware of the household, advised NCS affiliate Spectrum News Buffalo.
Shah Alam’s son, Mohamad Faisal, advised NCS he final noticed his father on February 19, earlier than he was launched from jail.
Faisal advised Reuters that Shah Alam didn’t learn, write or use digital gadgets.
What we don’t know:
-
What was the extent of Shah Alam’s visible impairment?
-
What was his well being situation earlier than he was launched?
-
Did he have identified medical situations requiring therapy?
Shah Alam was arrested in February 2025 after what his son described as a misunderstanding.
He had gone for a stroll utilizing a curtain rod as a strolling stick, grew to become misplaced and wandered onto non-public property, Faisal advised Reuters. When officers arrived and ordered Shah Alam to drop the rod, he didn’t comply as a result of he didn’t perceive.
Body digicam video obtained by NCS affiliate WGRZ reveals Shah Alam holding what seems to be two lengthy black poles. He is seen waving the poles in the course of the officers earlier than they fired stun weapons and tackled him. Two officers suffered minor accidents, police mentioned.
He was later indicted on felony assault, housebreaking and legal mischief prices, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office mentioned.
Earlier this month, he pleaded responsible to 2 misdemeanor prices: legal possession of a weapon in the fourth diploma and legal trespass in the third diploma. Sentencing was scheduled for March 24.
Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane mentioned his workplace decreased the prices after contemplating Shah Alam’s medical situation, time served and the “significant collateral consequences that would result from a felony conviction – including mandatory deportation.”
What we don’t know:
-
Did Shah Alam constantly have entry to a translator throughout his yr in custody?
-
Was his visible impairment or different well being points documented in inner jail information?
Shah Alam’s bond had been set at $5,000. His household initially declined to publish bail, fearing a federal immigration detainer would end result in his switch to immigration custody, in keeping with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, which represented Shah Alam.
Following the plea deal, an immigration lawyer was consulted and the household posted bond after being suggested it will not place Shah Alam susceptible to deportation, the authorized assist assertion mentioned.
As Shah Alam’s launch was being processed on February 19, Erie County deputies notified Border Patrol due to the detainer, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office mentioned.
Border Patrol brokers arrived as Shah Alam’s launch was being processed and took him into their custody.
What we don’t know:
-
Who posted the bond?
-
Was Shah Alam supplied a translator throughout his launch or when Border Patrol brokers picked him up?
-
How a lot communication was there between native and federal authorities earlier than the switch?
Later that day, immigration authorities decided Shah Alam, as a authorized refugee, “was not amenable to removal,” Customs and Border Protection mentioned in a press release.
Using a translation program, brokers tried to speak with Shah Alam, in keeping with a federal legislation enforcement official. Shah Alam was supplied the alternative to make a cellphone name, however declined, and requested to be taken to the location the place he was finally dropped off, the official mentioned.
“Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station. He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance,” the CBP assertion mentioned.
According to authorized assist, Shah Alam was dropped off at a Tim Hortons close to his final recognized deal with someday after 8 p.m., although that location had already closed at 7 p.m. His household now not lived at the prior deal with, and neither kinfolk nor his legal professional had been advised he had been launched by CBP or the place was taken, the group mentioned.
“Mr. Alam was extremely vulnerable. He spoke almost no English and could not communicate without the aid of an interpreter. He suffered from severely impaired vision and had other health issues,” the authorized assist assertion mentioned.
“He had only been in the US for a few months prior to his arrest. He would not have known where he was or had the wherewithal to contact his family or avail himself of other resources or services that could have assisted him,” the assertion continued.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan criticized Shah Alam’s launch by Border Patrol, saying brokers may have contacted members of the family or returned him to the county holding middle. There, they may have obtained cellphone numbers for his son or lawyer, who had each been energetic guests whereas he was in custody, in keeping with Ryan.
What we don’t know:
-
Is there protocol for releases involving individuals with disabilities or restricted English proficiency?
-
Did the brokers communicate to anybody in the espresso store after it had closed and earlier than leaving him there?
Shah Alam’s legal professional reported him lacking to police three days after he was launched, on February 22, telling officers he couldn’t “confirm his client’s location despite contacting federal authorities,” police mentioned.
Police briefly closed the case after figuring out Shah Alam had been transferred to federal custody, then reopened it after they discovered he had been launched.
His lacking particular person case remained open when somebody known as 911 round 8:30 p.m. on February 24 to report a person on a downtown avenue who appeared to not be respiratory.
The man, later recognized as Shah Alam, was sporting a darkish parka and khaki pants, a police assertion mentioned. A girl advised responding officers she’d seen the man about three hours earlier at the identical location and he was shifting.
First responders tried life-saving measures, however he was pronounced useless at the scene.
His reason behind death is unknown.
A metropolis spokesperson mentioned Wednesday the death appeared health-related and publicity and murder had been dominated out. But on Thursday, Ryan, the mayor, mentioned the health worker had not but launched its full findings.
The Erie County Health Department advised NCS that health worker information are handled as confidential medical information and would solely be shared with legislation enforcement and others legally entitled to them.
According to preliminary data, Shah Alam didn’t have footwear on, simply orange booties from the detention middle, when he was dropped off by brokers, Ryan mentioned.
The day Shah Alam was dropped off at the espresso store, the space noticed gentle freezing rain with temperatures in the low 30s. There was snow and fog over the subsequent two days, with temperatures hovering round freezing for no less than 24 consecutive hours.
What we don’t know:
-
What is Shah Alam’s reason behind death?
-
Did any underlying well being situations contribute to his death?
-
What occurred in the days between his launch and when he was discovered useless?
What are native and state officers saying?
Ryan has sharply criticized Border Patrol’s actions in the case, calling it “an inhumane thing to do,” and insisted that CBP should “answer for how and why this happened.”
The Buffalo Police Department mentioned its murder detectives are wanting into the timeline and circumstances resulting in Shah Alam’s death.
“The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam is a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy,” US Rep. Tim Kennedy, whose district contains Buffalo, mentioned Thursday, calling for a “full and transparent investigation at the local, state, and federal levels.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James mentioned her workplace “is reviewing our legal options,” in keeping with a press release.
NCS has reached out to CBP for extra data.
What we don’t know:
-
Have any companies except for the Buffalo Police Department began an investigation?