Blind Rohingya Refugee Found Dead in Buffalo After Border Patrol Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, was found dead on a downtown Buffalo street Tuesday evening, authorities confirmed. His death has sparked outrage and accusations of inhumane treatment by U.S. immigration authorities.
Alam had been missing since February 19, after being released from a county jail into the custody of U.S. Border Patrol. Agents dropped him off at a coffee shop miles from his home following a plea deal on unspecified criminal charges, according to the Buffalo Police Department.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Rhyan, a Democrat, issued a statement Wednesday calling Alam’s death “preventable” and a result of “inhumane” decision-making. “A vulnerable man – nearly blind and unable to speak English – was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location,” Rhyan said. “That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane.”
Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding Alam’s death.
The case has drawn attention to the treatment of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers by U.S. border agencies. According to data from the U.S. State Department, the United States has accepted approximately 14,000 Rohingya refugees since 2016, fleeing persecution in Myanmar. The Rohingya are a stateless ethnic minority, largely Muslim, who have faced systematic discrimination and violence in Myanmar.
Reports indicate Alam’s limited vision and inability to speak English made him particularly vulnerable after his release. Mother Jones reported that when police responded to a separate incident involving Alam, he did not understand commands to drop an object.
The Guardian reported that Alam was abandoned by border patrol agents.
This incident raises serious questions about the protocols in place for releasing vulnerable individuals from custody and ensuring their safety. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.