Myanmar Refugee Dies After Border Patrol Drops Him at Buffalo Coffee Shop

A 56-year-old nearly blind refugee from Myanmar was found dead five days after Border Patrol agents left him at a Tim Hortons restaurant in Buffalo. Nurul Amin Shah Alam couldn't speak English and was wearing only jail-issued orange booties when he was abandoned in winter weather.

A 56-year-old refugee from Myanmar with severe vision problems died on the streets of Buffalo after federal Border Patrol agents abandoned him at a coffee shop, sparking outrage from local officials and a police investigation.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam was taken into custody by Border Patrol on February 19th following his release from county jail, but federal authorities determined the same day that he could not be deported.

Federal agents then transported him to a Tim Hortons coffee shop in north Buffalo and left him there, according to officials and advocacy groups. His family, who had been waiting at the jail expecting his release, were never notified that he had been freed. Shah Alam’s attorney contacted Buffalo police on February 22nd to report him missing after discovering he wasn’t being held at any local immigration facility.

Authorities discovered Shah Alam’s body Tuesday evening near the downtown arena where the Buffalo Sabres play hockey. Officials haven’t determined how he traveled the several miles from the Tim Hortons location or established when he died.

The county medical examiner is working to determine what caused his death, health department officials announced Thursday. Buffalo Police initially told media that the medical examiner had determined the death was “health related” and eliminated exposure or murder as causes, but the Erie County Health Department later contradicted that statement, clarifying that no official determination had been reached. Investigators are examining the circumstances that led to Shah Alam’s death, which was initially reported by the Investigative Post.

Buffalo’s Democratic mayor partially attributed the death to federal agents’ “dereliction of duty,” arguing they should never have abandoned him alone, far from his residence.

“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. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane,” Mayor Sean Ryan stated in an online post.

Ryan revealed Thursday that Shah Alam was still wearing orange jail-issued footwear instead of appropriate winter shoes when he was left at the restaurant.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement defending their officers’ conduct.

“Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station,” the agency’s statement read. “He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance.”

Buffalo experienced below-freezing temperatures and light snowfall during the period Shah Alam went missing.

Shah Alam came to America in December 2024 with his wife and two children seeking better opportunities for his family, according to Imran Fazal, a family acquaintance who established the Rohingya Empowerment Community organization. He had previously spent many years working construction jobs in Malaysia.

Buffalo police took Shah Alam into custody a year earlier following an incident that left two officers with minor injuries. He initially faced indictment on assault, burglary and criminal mischief charges, Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane confirmed. Authorities said he was carrying two metal rods when he encountered the officers.

Fazal described the arrest as a misunderstanding caused by language barriers and cultural differences, explaining that Shah Alam had been seeking shelter from snow near a residence at the time. He added that Shah Alam required a cane to walk properly. Shah Alam eventually entered a guilty plea on February 9th to reduced misdemeanor charges of trespassing and weapon possession, with sentencing scheduled for March.

District Attorney Keane said he offered Fazal the reduced plea “in the interest of justice.” He noted that avoiding a felony conviction was one consideration, as it would have triggered automatic deportation proceedings.

Fazal said the family posted bail and arrived at the county jail Thursday anticipating Shah Alam’s release.

“The family was waiting in the waiting room,” Fazal explained. “They were thinking he was just coming out.”

However, because federal Border Patrol had filed an immigration hold following his arrest, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office followed standard procedure by notifying the federal agency about his upcoming release.

Ryan said Shah Alam was first brought to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, which refused to accept him.

Shah Alam’s family began searching after his lawyer learned about the Thursday evening drop-off at Tim Hortons, but were unable to find him, Fazal said.

“He should not be dropped off in a location where he doesn’t know anybody,” Fazal stated. “He doesn’t speak English.”

Fazal described the situation as “a complete failure of the system.”

Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to federal officials requesting a comprehensive review of the agents’ actions.