Arabic version: لاجئ أعمى يُعثر عليه ميتًا بعد تسليمه من قبل دوريات الحدود الأمريكية
A 56-year-old visually impaired refugee from Myanmar, Nurul Amin Shah Alam, was found dead after being released by US Border Patrol agents, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. According to ABC News, Shah Alam was dropped off at a Tim Hortons restaurant in Buffalo, New York, on February 19 after federal authorities determined he was not eligible for deportation.
Shah Alam’s family had anticipated his release from a county jail and reported him missing after learning he had been abandoned at the doughnut shop. He was later found dead near a hockey arena on February 24, with the cause of death determined to be health-related, according to the county medical examiner.
Buffalo’s Democratic Mayor Sean Ryan criticized the actions of federal agents, stating that they should not have left a vulnerable individual alone in the cold. He emphasized that Shah Alam, who was nearly blind and did not speak English, should have been placed in a safer environment. Ryan described the decision as “unprofessional and inhumane.”
In response, US Customs and Border Protection defended their actions, claiming that agents offered Shah Alam a ride to a warm location near his last known address. They stated he showed no signs of distress at the time of drop-off. However, temperatures in Buffalo fell below freezing during the days he was missing, raising concerns about his safety after being left alone.
Shah Alam arrived in the United States in December 2024 with his family in search of better opportunities. He had faced legal issues prior to his death, but his family had posted bail and expected him to be released from jail the day he was dropped off. Advocates have called the incident a failure of the system, emphasizing the need for better care for vulnerable individuals in similar situations.
