Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind Burmese refugee and father of two, has been ruled a homicide victim after his death in Buffalo, New York, following a release by U.S. Border Patrol officers. The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Alam died from complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer that were worsened by hypothermia and dehydration, but classified the manner of death as homicide—an evidence‑based medical conclusion informed by autopsy findings, lab tests, and review of all available records.
How he ended up in the U.S. and in Border Patrol’s custody
Alam fled genocide in Burma and resettled in the United States, settling in the Buffalo area. Last year he was involved in an incident where, according to his attorney Benjamin Macaluso, Alam—visually impaired and unable to speak English—became lost on a walk, ended up on a stranger’s porch holding a curtain rod as a makeshift walking stick, and did not understand police commands to drop it. Police reportedly Tasered and beat him before arresting him on charges of assault and criminal mischief, for which he spent months in jail. After his criminal case, Border Patrol placed an immigration hold on him.
What happened after his release
On February 19, 2026, Border Patrol agents dropped Alam off at a Tim Hortons in Buffalo, just a few miles from his home, according to reporting. He was reportedly left there without clear assistance or guidance, despite being blind and unfamiliar with the area. He was reported missing on February 22 and found dead on February 24, roughly a week after Border Patrol released him.
New York officials and advocacy groups have sharply criticized the circumstances, with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz saying, “This should not have happened,” while deferring responsibility questions to law‑enforcement and prosecutorial reviews. Attorney General Letitia James said Alam was “abandoned and left to suffer alone in his final hours” and that her office is continuing to review how he was treated.
Homicide ruling and political fallout
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s homicide ruling means that Alam’s death is legally treated as a killing caused by the actions or omissions of others, rather than by natural causes alone, even though the actual cause listed is a medical complication triggered by exposure. Erie County DA Mike Keane said his office has requested the autopsy report and will conduct a thorough, impartial review before commenting further.
The Department of Homeland Security, in contrast, has pushed back, saying Alam died nearly a week after Border Patrol released him and pointing to his prior criminal charges, but it has not disputed the medical examiner’s homicide classification. Community advocates argue the case raises serious questions about how disabled and non‑English‑speaking migrants are treated during and after immigration detention, especially when they are released into unfamiliar, potentially dangerous conditions.
