Death of Rohingya refugee left in parking lot by US border agents ruled a homicide

Key Points:

• Nurul Amin Shah, a 56-year-old visually impaired Rohingya refugee, died from complications related to hypothermia and dehydration after being abandoned by US Border Patrol agents at a Tim Hortons parking lot in Buffalo, with his death officially ruled a homicide by the Erie county medical examiner.
• Shah was left in freezing conditions without notification to his family or attorney, and he died five days later; the medical examiner clarified that "homicide" in this context refers to death caused by another’s actions, including negligence, without implying criminal intent.
• New York Attorney General Letitia James has launched a formal investigation into the circumstances of Shah’s death, emphasizing that no one should be treated in such a manner, while the Erie county district attorney is reviewing the autopsy report alongside other evidence.
• Shah had fled persecution in Myanmar and resettled in Buffalo in December 2024; after becoming disoriented due to visual impairment, he was detained and later dropped off by Border Patrol agents in freezing weather without assistance.
• The Department of Homeland Security denied responsibility, calling the homicide ruling a media hoax, while local politicians and advocates have demanded transparency and accountability in the investigation.