Blind refugee found dead in New York after being released by immigration authorities
Mar 02, 2026
New York [US], March 2: A nearly-blind, non-English-speaking refugee from Myanmar has been found dead in upstate New York after being released from federal immigration custody.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam was found dead on Tuesday, days after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) dropped him off at a coffee shop miles from his home in Buffalo, where temperatures have been below freezing. Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called Shah Alam's death "deeply disturbing" and called for an investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, said the man had accepted a courtesy ride to the shop and showed "no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance" when he was dropped off.
The department said that the coffee shop was closer to his home compared to being released "directly from the Border Patrol station" and it was determined to be "a warm, safe location".
Source: Qatar Tribune