The Rohingya Centre of United Kingdom (RCUK) is deeply saddened by the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56‑year‑old Rohingya genocide survivor from Myanmar, who was found deceased in Buffalo, New York, on 24 February 2026.
Mr. Shah Alam and his family were resettled in the United States through the UN Refugee Resettlement Programme after fleeing persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Like many Rohingya families displaced by violence recognised by the United States as genocide, they arrived seeking safety, dignity, and stability.
In 2025, shortly after his arrival, Mr. Shah Alam was arrested following what his family described as a misunderstanding. Nearly blind and unable to speak English, he had been using a curtain rod as a walking stick when he became lost and entered private property. Unable to understand police instructions, he was taken into custody. He remained at the Erie County Holding Center for much of the following year while his case proceeded, ultimately concluding with a misdemeanor plea agreement.
During his detention, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an immigration detainer requesting notification prior to his release. On 19 February 2026, after his family posted bail, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office contacted U.S. Border Patrol in response to that detainer. Federal officials later confirmed that Mr. Shah Alam had lawfully entered the United States as a refugee and was not subject to removal.
Instead of being returned home, Mr. Shah Alam was transported by Border Patrol agents and left at a coffee shop miles away from his residence. His family and attorney report that they were not informed of his location. Mr. Shah Alam did not have a phone, could not read or write, and was navigating freezing winter conditions.
He was reported missing. On 24 February, five days after his release, he was found unresponsive on a Buffalo street approximately four miles from where he had been left. Buffalo Police have confirmed that homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances and timeline leading to his death.
New York State Senator Sean Ryan described the death as “preventable” and criticised what he called “inhumane” decision‑making by federal immigration authorities, noting that a vulnerable man nearly blind and unable to speak English — was left alone on a cold winter night without being placed in a safe and secure location.
RCUK CEO Mohammed Amin stated:
“Nurul Amin Shah Alam survived genocide and sought safety in a country that promised protection. The events between his release on February 19 and his death on February 24 demand full transparency. A vulnerable refugee with severe disabilities should never have been left without safeguards or support. The failure to provide even a basic duty of care contributed to a preventable tragedy. Justice requires accountability and concrete measures to ensure this never happens again.”
RCUK extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Shah Alam’s wife, sons, and the wider Rohingya community. No human and refugee who has escaped persecution should face preventable harm in a country that promised protection.