The death of a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar who was found on a Buffalo street in February — five days after Border Patrol agents left him at a doughnut shop — has been classified as a homicide, according to authorities on Wednesday.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office did not assign blame for Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s death, which was attributed to complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer, exacerbated by hypothermia and dehydration. Classifying a death as a homicide indicates it resulted from someone else’s actions or lack thereof, but it does not necessarily imply a crime occurred.
“This should not have happened,” remarked Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, a Democrat, during a news conference on Wednesday. When asked if the Border Patrol was responsible, he refrained from commenting, saying it was for law enforcement to determine.
State Attorney General Letitia James and Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane, both Democrats, stated on Wednesday that their offices are reviewing the case. Keane noted that his office has requested Shah Alam’s full autopsy report but deemed it “inappropriate” to comment further.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reiterated Wednesday that Shah Alam did not show signs of distress, mobility issues, or any need for special assistance when agents left him at a Tim Hortons on February 19.
The Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol’s parent agency, stated on February 27 via social media that “this death had NOTHING to do” with Border Patrol and criticized media coverage as an attempt to malign law enforcement.
Immigrant advocates demanded justice for Shah Alam, a member of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, a group that has experienced discrimination and oppression in Myanmar.
New York Immigration Coalition President Murad Awawdeh stated that Shah Alam sought refuge in the U.S. but was instead “left to die in the street,” calling for a criminal investigation into the Border Patrol agents involved: “Every single person who was involved must be held responsible.”
Governor Kathy Hochul also called for accountability for everyone involved, sharing that her aides had communicated with the district attorney. Hochul, a Democrat from Buffalo, criticized the decision to leave a man with limited vision and English skills outside a closed restaurant as “cruel and inhumane.”
Customs and Border Protection explained that the restaurant was selected as a “warm, safe location” near Shah Alam’s last known address.
While many details of Shah Alam’s health and final days remain confidential under New York law, Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein reported that Shah Alam developed a stress ulcer due to dehydration and cold exposure. This ulcer breached his intestinal wall, creating a painful medical emergency requiring prompt treatment.
Shah Alam, aged 56, left Myanmar years ago for Malaysia, where he worked in construction. He arrived in the U.S. as a refugee with his wife and two children in December 2024, according to family advocates.
Imran Fazal, who knows the family and founded the Rohingya Empowerment Community, stated that Shah Alam’s death caused grief and fear among the community.
“This tragedy was entirely preventable, and it reflects a serious failure in the systems meant to protect vulnerable people,” Fazal expressed on Wednesday.
Shah Alam spent roughly a year in Erie County jail on felony assault and other charges following a 2025 altercation with police, during which he was reportedly carrying what appeared to be curtain rods. Police claimed he bit two officers; family advocates contended he did not understand the command to drop the items.
He eventually pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges and was released from jail on February 19. Border Patrol briefly detained him but found he wasn’t eligible for deportation. His family, awaiting his release, was not informed.
Surveillance footage obtained by the Investigative Post shows Shah Alam carefully navigating the empty Tim Hortons parking lot in his jail-issued footwear, pulling his hood up against the cold, and walking into the night.
Shah Alam’s lawyer reported him missing to Buffalo police on February 22.
On February 24, his body was discovered near the downtown sports arena where the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres play. How he traveled from the Tim Hortons, several miles away, remains unclear, and Burstein stated it was impossible to determine the exact time of death.
