A Rohingya refugee from Myanmar has been found dead in Buffalo, New York, days after being released from detention and dropped off by US immigration agents, sparking outrage and demands for accountability.

The man, identified as Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, was discovered on Tuesday night, six kilometres from where Border Patrol agents had left him at a restaurant. Almost blind and unable to speak English, Shah Alam had fled Myanmar and entered the United States late last year.

Top Democrats condemned the handling of his case. Senate leader Chuck Schumer accused agents of “abandoning him in the cold far from his home without telling his loved ones,” insisting the death was preventable. Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called the incident “deeply disturbing and a dereliction of duty,” stressing that a vulnerable man had been left alone on a winter night with no apparent safeguards.

Shah Alam’s legal troubles began in February when he was arrested in Buffalo and charged with assault, burglary and criminal mischief. Prosecutors later offered a reduced plea to misdemeanours, avoiding mandatory deportation. He was released on bail on 19 February, with sentencing scheduled for March.

US Customs and Border Protection said agents had determined he could not be deported and had offered him a lift to what they described as a “warm, safe location near his last known address.” Officials claimed he showed no signs of distress or disability requiring special assistance.

Buffalo Police confirmed detectives are investigating the circumstances of his death. An autopsy concluded it was “health related in nature,” ruling out homicide or exposure to cold.

The case has intensified scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, with critics warning of aggressive enforcement, racial profiling and failures in due process. For Shah Alam’s family and refugee advocates, the central question remains: how could a man with clear vulnerabilities be left without support, and what safeguards will prevent such tragedies in future?

-2026-03-01

It's always sad for the loss of life, but this trash isn't gonna be our burden anymore.