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Homicide Ruling in Death of Refugee Abandoned by Border Patrol in Buffalo

The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee, has been ruled a homicide by medical authorities in Buffalo, New York. Shah Alam was left by Border Patrol agents at a doughnut shop in February 2025 and died days later from complications of a perforated ulcer due to hypothermia and dehydration. Border Patrol denies responsibility, stating he showed no distress, while state and local officials are investigating and calling for accountability. Shah Alam had recently been released from jail on misdemeanor charges and was not known to his family at the time. The case highlights concerns over the treatment of refugees by immigration authorities.

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Homicide Ruling in Death of Refugee Abandoned by Border Patrol in Buffalo

The Erie County Medical Examiner has ruled the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, a homicide, following his abandonment by U.S. Border Patrol agents at a Buffalo doughnut shop in February 2025.

Homicide Ruling and Medical Findings

  • The medical examiner determined cause of death as complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer, precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration.
  • Ruling as homicide means death resulted from another's actions or inaction, but does not imply criminal charges yet.

Border Patrol's Response

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that Shah Alam showed no signs of distress or need for special assistance when dropped off.
  • The Department of Homeland Security claimed the death had "NOTHING to do" with Border Patrol.
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Official and Community Reactions

  • Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed that the death "should not have happened" but declined to comment on responsibility.
  • State Attorney General Letitia James and Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane are reviewing the case; Keane requested the autopsy report but withheld further comment.
  • Governor Kathy Hochul called for accountability, criticizing the "cruelty and inhumanity" of leaving a blind, non-English speaker outside a closed restaurant.
  • Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition demanded a criminal investigation into Border Patrol agents' conduct.

Background on Nurul Amin Shah Alam

  • Shah Alam, 56, was a Rohingya refugee who arrived in the U.S. in December 2024 with his wife and two children.
  • He had been incarcerated in Erie County jail on felony assault charges after a 2025 incident with police; he pleaded guilty to lesser misdemeanors and was released on February 19, 2025.
  • His family was not informed of his release, and he was briefly detained by Border Patrol before being determined ineligible for deportation.

Timeline and Final Days

  • Released from jail on February 19, Border Patrol dropped him at a Tim Hortons, described as a "warm, safe location."
  • Surveillance video shows him leaving the parking lot carefully, pulling his hood against the cold.
  • Reported missing by his lawyer on February 22; found dead on February 24 near a downtown sports arena.
  • The exact time and manner of his death remain unclear, as the autopsy report is confidential under New York law.
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