Tragic Death of Refugee in Buffalo Ruled Homicide Amid Investigation

Wed Apr 01 2026 23:52:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Authorities have ruled the death of a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, who was found on a Buffalo street, as a homicide, triggering calls for accountability regarding the actions of Border Patrol agents.

The Erie County Medical Examiner has categorized the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a refugee from Myanmar, as homicide due to complications related to hypothermia and dehydration. He was discovered after being left by Border Patrol agents at a closed restaurant. The incident has raised questions about the agency’s responsibility and led to demands for criminal investigations into the treatment he received.

Authorities have ruled the death of 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, as a homicide, following his discovery on a Buffalo street in February. Shah Alam was found five days after U.S. Border Patrol agents dropped him off at a Tim Hortons restaurant, which was closed at the time.

The Erie County Medical Examiner reported that Shah Alam died due to complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer, exacerbated by hypothermia and dehydration. The ruling of homicide indicates that his death resulted from another person’s actions—or lack of action—but does not necessarily imply a crime was committed.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed grief over the situation, stating at a press conference, This should not have happened, and extended condolences to Shah Alam’s family.

In the wake of these developments, the New York Immigration Coalition has called for a thorough criminal investigation into the conduct of Border Patrol agents involved in the case. President Murad Awawdeh emphasized the need for accountability, stating that Shah Alam sought safety in the United States but was ultimately left to die.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has responded to the medical examiner's findings, stating that Shah Alam was not displaying signs of distress or requiring special assistance when they left him at the restaurant. They maintain that this death had nothing to do with the actions of the Border Patrol.

Shah Alam, part of the Rohingya ethnic minority—who face severe restrictions and persecutions in Myanmar—had previously moved to Malaysia, where he spent years working in construction. He arrived in the U.S. with his wife and two children as a refugee in December 2024.

Before his death, he spent approximately a year incarcerated on felony assault charges stemming from an incident with police in 2025. His family was unaware of his release from jail on February 19; it took until February 22 for them to report him missing. He was found deceased near the downtown area of Buffalo, though there is uncertainty about how he arrived there from the restaurant or the timeline surrounding his death.