‘It broke our home’: family demands answers after death of man abandoned by US border agents

Key Points:

• Nurul Shah Alam, a visually impaired Rohingya refugee, died of hypothermia and dehydration after being released by US Border Patrol in freezing Buffalo, New York, without notifying his family or attorneys; his death was ruled a homicide by the Erie county medical examiner.
• Shah Alam had been detained following a confused incident involving a neighbor’s dog and was arrested, later pleading guilty to reduced charges; after bond was posted by his son, he was unexpectedly transferred from local custody to federal Border Patrol and dropped off alone at a closed location late at night.
• The case has exposed serious concerns about the treatment and release procedures of immigrant detainees under the Trump administration, highlighting a lack of coordination, safeguards, and communication with families, especially for vulnerable individuals with disabilities.
• Shah Alam’s death has deeply impacted Buffalo’s Rohingya community, who have fled ethnic violence and persecution in Myanmar, underscoring ongoing fears and trauma despite resettlement efforts in the United States.
• Authorities and advocates are calling for accountability and transparency, with investigations underway by New York’s attorney general and demands for cooperation from the Department of Homeland Security amid accusations of neglect and inhumane treatment.