Who: Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Rohingya refugee. When/Where: found dead on 24 February in upstate New York, after being released from federal custody on 19 February and left near a Tim Hortons in Buffalo. What/Result: family and city officials say he was dropped at a closed coffee shop miles from home; Buffalo police are investigating and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains he showed no visible distress when released.
Key takeaways
- Victim and timeline: Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, was reported missing on 22 February and found dead on 24 February, roughly five days after federal authorities released him on 19 February.
- Release location and distance: CBP personnel say he was given a courtesy ride to a Tim Hortons in Buffalo; police later located him about 6 miles (9.7 km) from that coffee shop.
- Weather and circumstances: local forecasts indicated temperatures around 36°F (2.2°C) the night he was seen near the closed shop; the shop’s posted hours show it closed at 19:00 local time.
- Custody history: Shah Alam had been held in local custody for nearly a year on assault and weapons charges before a plea deal and bail; U.S. immigration placed a detainer during that case.
- Language and disability: family and city officials emphasize he was nearly blind and did not speak English, a factor they say complicated his ability to navigate after release.
- Official positions: DHS/CBP say he accepted a ride and showed no signs of mobility issues; Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan has demanded further investigation and criticized the handling of the release.
Background
Shah Alam and his family are Arakan Rohingya refugees who arrived in the United States seeking safety; local reporting says he entered the country in December 2024. The Rohingya fled widespread violence in Myanmar, and many face language barriers and mobility or health needs that require special handling when in custody or transition.
Last year Shah Alam was arrested after an encounter with Buffalo police in which officers said two officers were injured; body-worn camera footage shows a confrontation in which tasers were used and Shah Alam was carrying two black rods that he and family members describe as a walking aid. He later reached a plea agreement, was released on bail, and a detainer from federal immigration authorities remained in place.
Main event
According to a timeline from Buffalo police and reporting by national outlets, Shah Alam’s lawyer reported him missing on 22 February after family members learned he had been transferred to federal custody on 19 February. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says officers dropped him at a Tim Hortons in Buffalo and that he accepted a courtesy ride and showed no visible signs of distress at that time.
Video posted by The Washington Post dated 19 February appears to show Shah Alam walking near the coffee shop after it had closed, and local weather records place the night’s temperature near 36°F (2.2°C). The coffee shop’s posted hours indicate it closes at 19:00, and officials say the location was chosen because it was closer to his home than releasing him directly from the Border Patrol station.
On 24 February a passerby discovered an unresponsive man wearing khaki pants and a dark parka; emergency responders were called and Buffalo police confirmed the man was Shah Alam. He was found about 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Tim Hortons where he is believed to have been dropped off. His cause of death has not been released publicly while authorities investigate.
Analysis & implications
The case highlights tensions between law enforcement, immigration authorities, and advocates over the handling of individuals with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Family members and local officials say Shah Alam’s nearly blind condition and language barrier should have prompted more careful custodial planning and notification to his family or attorney upon release.
From a policy perspective, the incident raises questions about coordination between local and federal actors. CBP asserts the drop-off was a “warm, safe location” and that Shah Alam displayed no observable mobility issues, but that assessment differs sharply from accounts by family and the mayor, who argue that releasing a nearly blind, non-English-speaking person to a closed public space created foreseeable risk.
There are potential legal consequences: New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office is reviewing legal options, and local officials have requested an inquiry into DHS, CBP and ICE procedures. If investigations find procedural lapses in how disabled noncitizens are assessed and transferred, agencies could face administrative or civil liability and calls to alter release protocols.
Comparison & data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reported release date | 19 February 2025 |
| Missing reported | 22 February 2025 |
| Found dead | 24 February 2025 |
| Distance found from drop-off | ~6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Night temperature near sighting | ~36°F (2.2°C) |
This table summarizes the timeline and key measured facts reported by police and media. The distance and temperature figures provide context for how far Shah Alam was located from the reported drop-off and the environmental conditions that night; together they illustrate the practical challenges a nearly blind person would face walking in cold weather after hours.
Reactions & quotes
City and state officials, advocates and the family have reacted strongly, calling for answers and better protocols when releasing vulnerable noncitizens.
“This is deeply disturbing. They dropped him at a closed coffee shop — a disabled man who doesn’t speak English, who is confused and lost,”
Sean Ryan, Mayor of Buffalo
Mayor Ryan used a news conference to press for an investigation and criticized the coordination between Border Patrol, ICE and DHS in handling Shah Alam’s release. His remarks reflect local frustration over perceived gaps in care for people with disabilities and limited English.
“No one who comes here seeking refuge should be left in harm’s way,”
Letitia James, New York Attorney General
Attorney General James said her office is reviewing legal options and framed the death within broader concerns about the protection of refugees. Her statement signals potential state-level inquiries or civil actions if procedural failures are found.
“CBP officers say he accepted a courtesy ride and showed no signs requiring special assistance,”
Department of Homeland Security / CBP (statement)
DHS and CBP have defended the choice of location as closer to his home and described the handover as voluntary and without visible distress. That official account is central to any internal review of whether policies were followed.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Shah Alam was actually unable to enter the coffee shop at the time of the sighting; video shows him near the store after hours but does not confirm intent or access.
- The exact cause and time of death remain unpublished pending the medical examiner’s report and are therefore unconfirmed at this time.
- Whether family or legal counsel were formally notified by federal officers at the time of release; family says they were not informed.
Bottom line
The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam has become a focal point for disputes over how immigration and law enforcement agencies treat vulnerable noncitizens. Available facts — the five-day window between reported release and discovery, the 6-mile separation from the reported drop-off point, his limited vision and language barriers, and the cold conditions that night — underscore why local leaders and advocates demand a thorough, transparent inquiry.
Investigations by Buffalo police, potential state legal reviews and any DHS internal reviews will determine whether protocols were followed and whether changes are required to prevent similar outcomes. For readers monitoring policy and oversight debates, the case may prompt renewed scrutiny of how courtesy releases, detainers and protective measures for disabled or non-English-speaking detainees are implemented across jurisdictions.
Sources
- BBC News — (media report; timeline and local reporting)
- Reuters — (international news agency; reported on CBP legal assessment)
- The Washington Post — (media; published video of the Tim Hortons sighting)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — (official federal agency statement)
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — (official federal oversight agency)
- City of Buffalo / Buffalo Police — (local law enforcement statements and timeline)