Homicide Ruling in Death of Blind Rohingya Refugee Raises Questions

Wed Apr 01 2026 23:14:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, has been ruled a homicide, with calls for accountability from local officials and activists.

Authorities have classified the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a visually impaired refugee found on the streets of Buffalo, New York, as a homicide. His death occurred shortly after U.S. Border Patrol dropped him off at a coffee shop. While the Erie County Medical Examiner determined that his death was due to complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer exacerbated by dehydration and hypothermia, questions remain regarding the responsibility of the agents involved.

The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, has been ruled a homicide by authorities following his discovery on a street in Buffalo, New York.

Shah Alam, whose death was linked to complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer aggravated by hypothermia and dehydration, was dropped off by Border Patrol agents at a Tim Hortons on February 19. The restaurant was closed at the time, raising concerns about the actions of the agents who, according to their statement, noted he showed no signs of distress or disability.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed dismay over the incident, stating, This should not have happened while extending condolences to Shah Alam's family. Activists from the New York Immigration Coalition, like Murad Awawdeh, are calling for a criminal investigation into the conduct of the Border Patrol agents involved.

Having arrived in the U.S. with his family in December 2024 as a refugee fleeing persecution, Shah Alam's plight came after a turbulent history in Malaysia, where he worked in constructions.

Shah Alam faced legal issues upon his release and had interactions with law enforcement, culminating in a brief detention by Border Patrol. His family remained unaware of his release, leading to his disappearance on February 22, just two days before his body was found.