Nurul Shah Alam: 5 things to know about refugee who died in Buffalo after allegedly being abandoned by Border Patrol
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, died after arrest by border patrol agents at buffaloHe allegedly abandoned him a few miles from his home. The Buffalo Police Department announced earlier this week that they were seeking help locating Shah Alam, who has been reported missing since February 22.
Video has now emerged showing Shah Alam abandoned.
New York attorney general responds to reports of his death Letitia James Make a statement explain “Nuru Amin Shah Alam fled genocide and came to this country in search of safety and opportunity. Instead, his life was tragically cut short. No one who comes here to seek asylum should be harmed. My office is reviewing our legal options. My heart goes out to Mr. Shah Alam’s family and loved ones as they mourn this devastating loss.”
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As interest in the case grows, here’s what you need to know about Shah Alam.
Nuru Shah Alam: 5 things you need to know
- Nurul Shah Alam is a blind father of two and a refugee from Myanmar. The Washington Post reported that he is a member of the Rohingya minority.
- He was arrested on assault charges in 2025 and spent several months in jail before being released into the custody of the Border Patrol days before his death.
- Border Patrol agents are accused of delivering Shah Alam, who had limited English skills and was visually impaired, to a Tim Hortons in Buffalo on February 19, the Enquirer reported. Report.
- The Buffalo Police Department arrested Shah Alam on February 16, 2025, according to the Erie County Sheriff’s Department. According to the report, “Following his incarceration, we received an immigration detainer being held by the U.S. Border Patrol. Mr. Shah Alam was released by us on February 19, 2026, after posting bail.”
- Days after Shah Alam was reported missing by his lawyer, an officer with the Buffalo Police Department “erroneously” closed a missing persons case, believing he was in ICE custody, local outlet WIVB reported.
Shah Alam was reportedly charged with felonious assault and criminal mischief charges. He later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of weapons possession and criminal trespassing. His lawyer insists Shah Alam’s criminal case stems from him getting lost while walking and ending up using a curtain rod as a cane on a stranger’s porch.
He reportedly did not speak English and therefore did not comply with officers’ orders to drop the stick. U.S. Customs and Border Protection told PEOPLE in a statement that Shah Alam “entered the United States as a refugee on December 24, 2024 and is not eligible for removal.”
According to the spokesperson, CBP agents offered Shah Alam “a courtesy” and he “chose to accept travel to a coffee shop and a warm, safe location near his last known address rather than being released directly from the Border Patrol station.” The statement added, “He did not show any signs of pain, reduced mobility, or a disability requiring special assistance.”
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Police Department announced their intention to “investigate” the circumstances and timeline of events from Shah Alam’s release to his death. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Shah Alam and determined his death was “health-related,” ruling out “exposure and homicide” as potential causes.
