Top Democrats in the United States condemned immigration authorities on Thursday following the death of a Rohingya refugee from Myanmar after his release from detention, intensifying scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies.
The body of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, was discovered on a street in Buffalo, in the north of New York state, on Tuesday night, a spokesman for the Buffalo Police Department confirmed.
Local media reports indicate that US Border Patrol agents dropped him off at a restaurant five days earlier. Shah Alam, who was described as nearly blind and unable to speak English, was found dead six kilometres away.
Border Patrol agents “seemingly abandoned him in the cold far from his home without telling his loved ones,” alleged Chuck Schumer, the top US Senate Democrat.
“He should be alive – and this should have never happened,” Schumer wrote on X, demanding an independent investigation.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan also called for answers and labelled the death “deeply disturbing and a dereliction of duty” by immigration agents.
“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 said in a statement.
Police investigation
The incident adds to the mounting criticism of Trump’s push to expel millions of undocumented migrants from US.
Critics argue that enforcement has gone too far, pointing to overly aggressive agents, racial profiling and violations of due process.
The circumstances surrounding Shah Alam’s case remain complex. The sheriff’s office said he had been in custody since February 2025 following his arrest by Buffalo police.
He was indicted on felony assault, burglary and criminal mischief charges. However, prosecutors offered a reduced plea, noting that a felony conviction would result in mandatory deportation, according to local media reports.
Shah Alam pleaded guilty on 9 February to two misdemeanours. He was released on bail on 19 February, with sentencing still pending.
US Border Patrol arrived at the detention centre before Shah Alam was released from custody, the sheriff’s office said.
Customs and Border Protection stated that immigration agents determined Shah Alam could not be deported and therefore offered him a lift to a “warm, safe location near his last known address.”
“He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance,” the agency said.
Buffalo Police said its detectives were working to establish the circumstances leading to Shah Alam’s death following his release from custody.
The force confirmed that an autopsy determined his death was “health related in nature,” ruling out exposure or homicide.
