BUFFALO, N.Y. — A missing refugee was found dead in Buffalo on Tuesday, days after being dropped off at a coffee shop by border patrol agents, according to Buffalo Police.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, who was reportedly blind, was reported missing on Feb. 22 by an attorney from Legal Aid who was representing him.
Shah Alam was arrested on Feb. 15, 2025, on charges of assault and trespassing. According to a police report shared with News10NBC’s affiliate in Buffalo, it alleges that Shah Alam became combative with officers, and bit one of them.
A district attorney told our affiliate a federal immigration detainer was issued after his arrest.
Shah Alam was in the Erie County Holding Center until his release on Feb. 19, 2026, which is also believed to be the day he went missing. Shah Alam’s attorney said deputies released him to Border Patrol agents on a detainer.
Border patrol issued a statement saying agents offered Alam a courtesy ride, which he accepted. Read the full statement given to our Buffalo affiliate:
“On February 19, 2026, Erie County Sheriff’s Department alerted Border Patrol about a non-citizen in their custody. Our agents confirmed that Mr. Shah Alam entered the United States as a refugee on December 24, 2024, and was not amenable to removal. 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. He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance. The U.S. Border Patrol defers to the Buffalo Police Department for further questions.”
Investigators are now reviewing the timeline after Shah Alam’s release. They say his death was due to natural causes.
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