Nearly blind man dies after border agents leave him at New York doughnut shop
A nearly blind refugee from Myanmar was found dead in Buffalo five days after U.S. Border Patrol agents released him at a doughnut shop, sparking a police investigation and criticism from city officials over his treatment.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, had been detained on February 19 following his release from a county jail, but was cleared by federal authorities as ineligible for deportation and let go the same day. Agents took him to a Tim Hortons north of downtown Buffalo and left him there, authorities and advocates said. His family, expecting him to be released directly, reported him missing after learning of the drop-off.
Shah Alam’s body was discovered Tuesday night near the downtown arena where the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres play. How he traveled from the Tim Hortons several miles away, or the exact time of his death, remains unclear. The county medical examiner ruled the death “health-related in nature,” excluding exposure or homicide, while detectives continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to his passing.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan condemned the Border Patrol’s actions, calling it a “dereliction of duty.” He noted Shah Alam was vulnerable, nearly blind, unable to speak English, and left alone on a cold winter night. U.S. Customs and Border Protection defended the agents, stating that Shah Alam had chosen to be dropped off at what they considered a safe, warm location near his last known address and had shown no signs of distress or disability.
Shah Alam had arrived in the U.S. with his wife and two children in December 2024, seeking new opportunities. He had worked in construction in Malaysia prior to coming to the U.S. His previous arrest in Buffalo a year ago, which involved minor injuries to two officers, was later resolved through a plea deal reducing charges to misdemeanors to avoid triggering mandatory deportation.
Family and community advocates criticized the decision to release Shah Alam in an unfamiliar area without support. Imran Fazal, who works with the Rohingya community, called the situation “a complete failure of the system,” emphasizing that Shah Alam did not speak English and had no one to turn to when left at the Tim Hortons.
Temperatures in Buffalo during the days he was missing dropped below freezing with light snowfall, raising concerns over his safety. Authorities continue to review the events surrounding Shah Alam’s release and death.
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