Nearly Blind Refugee Found Dead After Border Agents Dropped Him at Closed Coffee Shop in Freezing Temps [Video]

The unexplained death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind refugee, is prompting outrage and urgent questions about how federal immigration agents handled his release on a frigid Buffalo, New York, night.

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Shah Alam, 56, was released from the Erie County Holding Center on February 19 after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors had reduced the original felony counts, citing his health and the “significant collateral consequences that would result from a felony conviction, including mandatory deportation,” according to Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane. 

As his release was being processed, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents took him into custody on an immigration detainer. Authorities later determined the legal refugee, who entered the United States on December 24, 2024, “was not amenable to removal,” CBP said.

In a statement, the agency said, “Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station. He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance.”

However, the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo disputed that account, stating, “Mr. Alam was extremely vulnerable. He spoke almost no English and could not communicate without the aid of an interpreter. He suffered from severely impaired vision and had other health issues.”

The Rohingya immigrant was reportedly dropped at a closed Tim Hortons after 8 p.m. in near-freezing temperatures. His body was found on February 24, roughly four miles away. The cause of death remains unknown. Surveillance footage shows Shah Alam walking after being dropped off, though it’s unknown if he was aware of where he was headed.

Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called the situation “an inhumane thing to do,” while U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy described it as “a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy,” demanding a “full and transparent investigation at the local, state, and federal levels.”