The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, has been classified as a homicide by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office. Shah Alam was discovered on a Buffalo street in February, five days after U.S. Border Patrol agents left him at a Tim Hortons restaurant, a decision that is now under scrutiny.
Shah Alam's cause of death was identified as complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer, complicated by hypothermia and dehydration. The ruling of homicide implies that the death resulted from actions or inactions of individuals but does not directly indicate criminal liability.
County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, This should not have happened, and extended condolences to Shah Alam's family.
The state attorney general and Erie County district attorney continue to investigate the matter, with advocacy groups calling for a thorough investigation into Border Patrol's actions. Advocates maintain that Shah Alam, upon arriving in the U.S., was marked for safety but was instead left to die in the streets.
It is reported that Shah Alam, a member of the Rohingya ethnic minority from Myanmar, sought refuge from ongoing persecution when he arrived in the U.S. with his family in December 2024. Prior to this, he had spent years working in construction in Malaysia.
After being released from jail on unrelated charges on February 19, Shah Alam was temporarily detained by Border Patrol, which maintained that he showed no signs of distress when dropped off. However, officials later revealed that the restaurant was closed during the drop-off, raising further questions about his handling.
Shah Alam's disappearance was reported two days after his release, and he was found deceased near a downtown sports arena. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain how he ended up several miles from the location where he was last seen.
