The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee, a homicide. Shah Alam was found on a Buffalo street in February, five days after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents left him at a Tim Hortons doughnut shop. The medical examiner determined his death was caused by complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer, precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration. The ruling does not imply criminal intent but indicates his death resulted from another person’s actions or inaction.
Shah Alam, 56, had been released from a county jail and briefly detained by Border Patrol before being dropped off at the restaurant. CBP stated he showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance at the time. However, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan disputed this, saying the restaurant was closed when Shah Alam was left there.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz emphasized that the homicide designation is non-legal and statistical, not an accusation of criminality. He noted that New York Attorney General Letitia James and Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane are reviewing the case. Activists, including Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition, have called for a criminal investigation into Border Patrol’s conduct.
Shah Alam had been arrested in February 2024 after Buffalo Police mistook his curtain rod walking stick for a weapon, leading to his tasing and year-long incarceration. His family and lawyers were not notified of his whereabouts after his release.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied responsibility, stating Shah Alam’s death had nothing to do with Border Patrol. However, critics argue the agency failed to provide adequate assistance to a vulnerable individual.