Death of near-blind Myanmar refugee in freezing cold New York ruled a homicide
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Community members and loved ones carrying the body of Mr Nurul Amin Shah Alam during his funeral service in Buffalo, New York, on Feb 26.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee, was found dead in Buffalo, New York, after being released from jail into US Border Patrol custody.
- The Erie County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide due to complications from hypothermia and dehydration, precipitated by a perforated duodenal ulcer.
- Officials and advocates criticised the "inhumane" treatment, while DHS claimed the death was unrelated to Border Patrol actions, sparking further controversy.
AI generated
NEW YORK – Local officials in upstate New York on April 1 ruled the death of a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar as a homicide, after he had gone missing for several days upon being released from jail and into the custody of the US Border Patrol.
Mr Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, was found dead on a downtown Buffalo street in freezing cold weather in February.
Mr Shah Alam, from a family of Arakan Rohingya refugees, did not speak English and walked with a cane.
His death raised concerns and prompted outrage about the treatment of immigrants in US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Apart from Mr Shah Alam’s case, at least 14 people have died in immigration custody in 2026.
Mr Shah Alam was almost blind and did not speak English.
PHOTO: BUFFALO POLICE
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s office reported the manner of death as homicide, with the cause being determined as complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration.
Homicide could result from negligence or omission, and the designation does not imply intent, the medical examiner said in a statement.
New York Attorney-General Letitia James said her office would continue to review the “circumstances and treatment” that led to his death.
“Mr Shah Alam fled genocide to build a life in this country. Instead, he was abandoned and left to suffer alone in his final hours,” she said in a statement.
US Border Patrol agents dropped him off at a coffee shop following his release from jail, where he spent much of the last year awaiting trial on criminal charges that resulted in a misdemeanour plea deal.
At the time, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan, a Democrat, said his death was preventable and the result of “inhumane” decision-making by the federal immigration authorities.
But the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on social media platform X at the time that the death had “nothing to do” with Border Patrol, calling the story “another hoax being peddled by the media and sanctuary politicians to demonise our law enforcement”.
The DHS, the parent agency of Border Patrol, said agents offered Mr Shah Alam a courtesy ride, and he accepted being left at the coffee shop, which was “determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address... He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance”.
A DHS spokesperson declined to comment further on April 1. REUTERS
