By Trendsetter Tribune 
BUFFALO, NY — A tragic investigation is underway in Buffalo after Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, was found dead on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The discovery came five days after U.S. Border Patrol (CBP) agents dropped him off at a Tim Hortons coffee shop and left him to find his way home in sub-freezing temperatures without notifying his family or legal counsel.
The death has ignited a firestorm of criticism from local and national leaders, who have labeled the federal agency’s actions as “unprofessional and inhumane.”
The Timeline of a “Preventable” Tragedy
Shah Alam’s ordeal began nearly a year ago and ended in a series of systemic failures over the last week.
- Feb 19, 2026: After a year in county jail following a “misunderstanding” arrest (where he mistook a curtain rod for a walking stick), Shah Alam was released. Because of an immigration detainer, he was handed over to CBP agents.
- The “Courtesy” Drop-Off: Agents determined Shah Alam was a legal refugee and could not be deported. Instead of releasing him to his family, they reportedly drove him to a Tim Hortons in the Black Rock neighborhood—a mile from his old address but five miles from his current home.
- Feb 19–24: Shah Alam, who spoke no English, could not use a phone, and was legally blind in one eye with blurry vision in the other, went missing. Temperatures in Buffalo dropped below freezing with light snow during this window.
- Feb 24, 2026: His body was discovered shortly after 8:30 p.m. near the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo, several miles from where he was dropped off.
“Inhumane and Unprofessional”
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan delivered a blistering rebuke of the federal agents involved, calling the incident a “dereliction of duty.”
“A vulnerable man — nearly blind and unable to speak English — was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane.” — Mayor Sean Ryan, Feb 25, 2026
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also joined the calls for an immediate independent investigation, stating, “Border Patrol took a nearly blind father… and seemingly abandoned him in the cold. This should have never happened.”
CBP’s Defense: “He Showed No Signs of Distress”
In a statement to the Investigative Post, a CBP spokesperson defended the agents’ decision, claiming they provided a “courtesy ride” to a location they deemed “warm and safe.”
- The Agency’s Stance: “He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance,” the spokesperson claimed.
- The Contradiction: Advocates and family members noted that Shah Alam’s visual impairment was profound and that he was wearing orange jail-issued booties at the time of his release, making it clear he was a vulnerable person in need of assistance.
Cause of Death and Legal Fallout
The Erie County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and determined the cause of death was health-related. While homicide and death by exposure (hypothermia) have been officially ruled out, city officials maintain that his death was a direct result of being “discarded” in a location where he had no resources or ability to navigate.
| Key Figure | Role | Response |
| Benjamin Macaluso | Legal Aid Attorney | Filed a missing persons report; called the drop-off “incredible” and a “complete failure.” |
| Imran Fazel | Rohingya Advocate | “Devastated… He should not be dropped off in a location where he doesn’t know anybody.” |
| Tim Kennedy | U.S. Representative | Demanded a “full and transparent investigation” at the local, state, and federal levels. |