Additional Coverage:
- Death of a nearly blind refugee left at a Buffalo doughnut shop by Border Patrol is ruled a homicide (cnn.com)
The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, who was found on a Buffalo street in February after being left by Border Patrol agents at a Tim Hortons, has been officially ruled a homicide, authorities announced Wednesday.
According to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office, Shah Alam’s death was caused by complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer, worsened by hypothermia and dehydration. While the medical examiner classified the death as a homicide, this designation indicates it resulted from another person’s actions or inaction, but does not inherently imply criminal wrongdoing.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed deep concern, stating, “This should not have happened.” When questioned about Border Patrol’s role, Poloncarz deferred to law enforcement agencies to determine responsibility.
Both New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane are reviewing the case. Keane’s office has requested the full autopsy report but has refrained from further comment at this stage.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintained its position, emphasizing that Shah Alam “showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance” when he was dropped off on February 19 at the Tim Hortons location. The Department of Homeland Security, CBP’s parent agency, previously refuted claims linking the agency to Shah Alam’s death, condemning media coverage they described as attempts to “demonize our law enforcement.”
Advocates for immigrants and members of the Rohingya community, to which Shah Alam belonged, have called for justice. The Rohingya minority has long faced persecution in Myanmar, and local advocates condemned the circumstances surrounding his death.
Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, called for a thorough criminal investigation into the conduct of the Border Patrol agents involved, insisting that “every single person who was involved must be held responsible.”
Governor Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, also demanded accountability, criticizing what she described as the “cruelty and inhumanity” of leaving a vulnerable man-who was nearly blind and had limited English skills-outside a closed restaurant on a cold night. CBP had stated that the Tim Hortons was chosen as a “warm, safe location” near Shah Alam’s last known address.
Details about Shah Alam’s health in his final days remain largely confidential due to New York’s laws protecting autopsy reports. Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein explained that Shah Alam developed a stress ulcer, a severe medical condition triggered by dehydration and exposure to cold, which required urgent treatment.
Shah Alam, 56, originally fled Myanmar years ago and lived in Malaysia before coming to the United States as a refugee with his wife and two children in December 2024. Imran Fazal, founder of the Rohingya Empowerment Community, described the death as a preventable tragedy that has left the community grieving and fearful.
Prior to his death, Shah Alam had spent about a year in Erie County jail on charges stemming from a 2025 incident involving a confrontation with police. Advocates say he may not have fully understood police commands during that encounter.
After pleading guilty to lesser charges, he was released on February 19. Border Patrol detained him briefly afterward but concluded he was not subject to deportation.
His family was not informed of his release.
Surveillance footage captured Shah Alam walking alone through the empty Tim Hortons parking lot in jail-issued footwear, pulling his hood against the cold before disappearing into the night. His lawyer reported him missing to Buffalo police three days later.
Shah Alam’s body was found on February 24 near Buffalo’s downtown sports arena. Authorities have not determined how he traveled from the Tim Hortons location several miles away, nor the exact time of his death.
This case continues to raise serious questions about the treatment of vulnerable individuals in custody and the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies involved.