The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is facing mounting political pressure after allegations that border patrol agents left a nearly blind refugee to die in Buffalo, New York.
The death of 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam has triggered multiple investigations and fierce criticism from state and local leaders. His body was discovered five days after federal agents released him from custody and dropped him at a coffee shop alone. The circumstances surrounding his final days remain deeply contested, with the central question being whether DHS and border patrol officers failed in their duty of care.
The Final Hours in Buffalo
Shah Alam, described by family as a nearly blind man who relied on a cane, had been released from Erie County jail on 19 February. Deputies notified US border patrol agents, who had lodged an immigration detainer against him. Federal officials later confirmed he had entered the United States legally as a refugee and was 'not amenable to removal'. Despite this, border patrol agents took custody of him upon his release from jail.
A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection said agents offered him 'a courtesy ride' to a coffee shop near his last known address rather than releasing him at the station, and insisted he 'showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance'. Five days later, emergency services were called to report a man not breathing. Buffalo Police said homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances and timeline leading to his death.
Mayor Calls Death 'Preventable'
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan has been among the most vocal critics, describing the death as 'preventable' and saying border patrol officers 'had no protocol of what to do with a disabled man who doesn't speak English'. Ryan alleged that Shah Alam was left at a closed coffee shop without shoes, wearing only detention centre booties, in near-freezing conditions. Weather reports indicate light freezing rain on the day he was dropped off, followed by snow and fog.
'That is bad policing, but that is also bad human beings. That is an inhumane thing to do,' Ryan said. He has demanded that DHS and border patrol 'answer for how and why this happened.'
Family Left Uninformed
Family members say they were never told where Shah Alam had been dropped off. His son, Mohamad Faisal, told Reuters that his father could not read, write or use electronic devices.
For days, relatives believed he remained in custody at an immigration facility, and a missing persons report was filed on 22 February.
A police detective initially closed the case after determining Shah Alam had been in federal custody, but it was reopened when it became clear he had been released.
Community members and local agencies began searching for him before his body was found roughly four miles from the coffee shop.
A Year In Custody Before His Death
Before his release, Shah Alam had spent nearly a year behind bars awaiting trial on charges stemming from a misunderstanding with police. His son said the nearly blind refugee had been using a curtain rod as a walking stick when he wandered onto private property. Body camera footage obtained by local media reportedly shows officers deploying stun guns before tackling and handcuffing him.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanour charges in a deal that avoided what prosecutors described as an 'unduly harsh' penalty. Erie County District Attorney Michael J Keane said he was 'saddened to learn of the tragic death' and confirmed his office would move to dismiss charges once a death certificate is issued.
Political Fallout for DHS
The incident has intensified scrutiny of DHS practices amid broader debates over immigration enforcement. New York Congressman Tim Kennedy has called for a 'full and transparent investigation at the local, state, and federal levels'. New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office is 'reviewing our legal options'.
Critics argue that even if the border patrol agents technically followed procedure, releasing a nearly blind refugee alone in unfamiliar surroundings raises profound ethical questions.
DHS maintains that Shah Alam declined the opportunity to make a phone call and asked to be taken to the location where he was dropped off, adding that a translation programme was used to communicate with him. Local leaders dispute whether meaningful consent was possible given his limited English and reported disabilities.
The Erie County Medical Examiner has not yet released full findings on the cause of death; an earlier statement suggested it was health-related, but officials have since said the matter remains under investigation. Until investigators establish exactly what happened, pressure on DHS is unlikely to ease.
Until investigators establish exactly how and why this death occurred, pressure on DHS is unlikely to subside.
