Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam in CBP custody
Nurul Amin Shah Alam
1 — exposure (hypothermia and dehydration; ruled a homicide)Killed
Key sources
Nurul Amin Shah Alam (56, Myanmar) died on 2026-02-24 while in the custody of Border Patrol, in Buffalo, NY (dropped off by Border Patrol Feb 19; found dead Feb 24). Detained then released; Border Patrol left the nearly-blind, non-English-speaking man alone at a closed coffee shop across town in near-freezing weather without notifying family; found dead 5 days later.
Official account
Border Patrol says he declined a phone call and asked to be dropped there.
What is documented
- Person: Nurul Amin Shah Alam, age 56; Myanmar (Rohingya refugee).
- Location: Buffalo, NY (dropped off by Border Patrol Feb 19; found dead Feb 24).
- Agency: Border Patrol.
- Cause: exposure (hypothermia and dehydration; ruled a homicide).
- Circumstance: Detained then released; Border Patrol left the nearly-blind, non-English-speaking man alone at a closed coffee shop across town in near-freezing weather without notifying family; found dead 5 days later.
Scrutiny of the official account
Grounded in the sourced record below; this documents the dispute rather than asserting a conclusion.
- Status / dispute: Disputed - county medical examiner ruled it a homicide (Apr 1, 2026); active investigation. Included with caveat that death occurred after release, not inside custody.
Unanswered questions
- Will the responsible agency release its full records, footage, and the medical examiner's findings?
- Was the death preventable — and were required medical or welfare protocols followed?
- Will an independent body (not the agency itself) investigate?
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