Blind refugee found dead in NY after being released by immigration authorities

19 hours ago

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly-blind, non-English-speaking refugee from Myanmar, was found dead in upstate New York after being released by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
He was dropped off at a closed coffee shop miles from his home in freezing temperatures, despite having mobility and language barriers.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called the incident 'deeply disturbing' and criticized federal agencies for lacking protocols for vulnerable individuals.
Shah Alam had been in local police custody for nearly a year on assault and weapons charges related to an incident where he misunderstood police commands due to language barriers.
CBP released him after determining he entered the US as a refugee and could not be legally deported, but his family was not notified of his release.
His son, Mohamad Faisal, stated that his father's arrest stemmed from a misunderstanding when he used a curtain rod as a walking stick and failed to comply with police orders.
Local officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, are calling for an investigation into his death, citing systemic failures in handling vulnerable refugees.

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