A refugee from Myanmar, who was nearly blind and went missing after being left at a coffee shop by Border Patrol officers, has tragically been found deceased on a street in New York.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, aged 56, was discovered just four miles from the Tim Hortons in Buffalo where Border Patrol agents had left him.

The Buffalo News reports that Shah Alam, who could not speak English or operate a phone, died due to health-related issues.

His body was found on Tuesday evening, five days after being left at the restaurant following his release from custody with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after a jail term.

Shah Alam had spent nearly a year in the Erie County Holding Center for an incident that resulted in injuries to two police officers before being transferred to Border Patrol custody.

Federal agents are now facing criticism for allegedly providing Shah Alam with what they called a ‘courtesy ride’ before abandoning him at the coffee shop.

News of his death has since triggered intense community concern and demands for accountability.

‘The preventable death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam is deeply disturbing and a dereliction of duty by the US Customs and Border Protection,’ Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said in a statement Wednesday. 

Nurul Amin Shah Alam (pictured), 56, a mostly blind refugee from Myanmar who disappeared in the custody of US Border Patrol after being freed from jail, was found dead in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday 

Shah Alam spent close to a year in the Erie County Holding Center (pictured) for an incident that left two police officers injured before being handed over to Border Patrol last week

‘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,’ he added.

‘That decision from US Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane.’

Common Councilmember David A. Rivera also weighed in, calling the early information surrounding Shah Alam’s death both ‘concerning and alarming’.

‘Tensions were already up with what’s happening nationally and even locally,’ he said. ‘People are suspicious. They are fearful of ICE.’

Meanwhile, the office of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it was informed last Thursday about a non-citizen in the sheriff’s custody, a spokesperson told Buffalo News.

Federal officials said Shah Alam came to the country as a refugee on Christmas Eve 2024 and ‘was not amenable for 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,’ the agency said.

‘He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance,’ they added.

Shah Alam’s first brush with the law came in February 2025, after a resident on Tonawanda Street reported someone in her fenced-in yard damaging her shed. 

Federal agents are now accused of giving Shah Alam a ‘courtesy ride’ before dropping him off at a Tim Hortons on Niagara Street, where he was last seen Thursday of last week

In a Wednesday statement, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan (pictured) said: ‘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’

Authorities found him and tased him after he allegedly refused to drop two long black poles he was holding, according to the outlet.

The report, however, revealed that the tasers had virtually no effect on Shah Alam, who continued advancing on officers as they struggled to restrain him. 

Police said that during the attempted arrest, Shah Alam, reportedly smelling of alcohol, bit and scratched the officers.

In a statement detailing Shah Alam’s case, the district attorney said he was booked into the Holding Center the day after his arrest and faced charges of assault, menacing, trespassing, criminal mischief and additional counts. 

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane also said an immigration detainer was filed, allowing a person in custody to be held up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release for handover to immigration authorities.

The DA’s office said a grand jury indicted Shah Alam on felony assault, burglary and criminal mischief, but Keane chose to offer a reduced plea, noting that felony convictions would have required deportation. 

On February 9, after nearly a year in jail, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and was granted $5,000 bail, with the understanding that he would remain in custody until his sentencing next month.

The sheriff’s office, which operates the Erie County Holding Center, said Wednesday that his bond was posted on February 19 and that his release followed proper procedures – a step the district attorney said he was not aware of. 

Common Councilmember David A. Rivera (pictured) weighed in, calling the early information surrounding Shah Alam’s death both ‘concerning and alarming’

Meanwhile, CBP said that Shah Alam ‘showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance’

‘US Border Patrol arrived at the Holding Center prior to the finalization of Mr. Shah Alam’s release from Erie County Sheriff’s Office custody,’ the office said in a statement.

‘We did not delay – nor do we ever delay – the release process based on a detainer,’ they added.

Keane, however, revealed that his office had only just learned of Shah Alam’s release on Tuesday, according to Buffalo News.

‘We have been informed that the federal immigration detainer remained in place at the time his bond was posted on Thursday, February 19, 2026,’ he said. ‘My office will move to dismiss the charges upon receipt of his death certificate.’ 

Following his release into federal custody last week, Shah Alam was reported missing by his family who expressed concern over his mobility and health. 

His attorneys claimed that the detective who initially handled the missing-person case had closed it for several hours, even though he had not yet been found, according to the Investigative Post.

Police Commissioner Craig Macy confirmed to the outlet that the case was eventually reopened Monday afternoon.

But Shah Alam was found dead just after 8:30pm near KeyBank Center just days later, with the medical examiner ruling out both exposure and homicide as causes of death. 

In February, Shah Alam pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and was granted $5,000 bail, with the understanding that he would remain in custody until his sentencing next month

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane (pictured), revealed that his office had only just learned of Shah Alam’s release on Tuesday

Federal authorities are now being accused of abandoning him at Tim Hortons without notifying anyone. 

Representative Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon calling the refugee’s death a ‘horrific and heartbreaking tragedy.’

‘Mr. Alam should be alive and with his loved ones today. Instead, after days of fear and uncertainty, his family is now grieving an unimaginable loss,’ Kennedy said.

‘There must be a full and transparent investigation at the local, state and federal levels,’ he added. ‘The public and Mr. Alam’s family deserve answers immediately.’

Mohammed Osman Shimul, an active member of Buffalo’s Bengali community, told Buffalo News that Shah Alam’s death is simply ‘alarming.’

‘The circumstances surrounding his death are alarming and raise questions about the level of humanity exhibited by those involved,’ he said.

‘His absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him, as well as the entire Buffalo community.’

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, which represents Shah Alam, also published a statement to social media expressing their sadness.

Representative Tim Kennedy (pictured), D-Buffalo, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon calling the refugee’s death a ‘horrific and heartbreaking tragedy’

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo (pictured), which represents Shah Alam, published a statement to social media expressing their sadness over their client’s death

‘We have received several inquiries regarding more information on Mr. Alam. Due to our ethical obligations, we are unable to offer any comment at this time,’ the firm wrote.

Councilmember Rivera said he is waiting for further details on the events leading up to Shah Alam’s death and emphasized that the city’s response will be critical, according to Buffalo News.

‘We have to be extra careful,’ he told the outlet. ‘We need a thorough investigation and to follow leads wherever they go.’ 

The Daily Mail has approached CBP for comment.