Rohingya Refugee Dies After Being Left Far From Home by US Agents

A 56-year-old Rohingya refugee, Nurul Amin Shah Alam, has been found dead in Buffalo, New York, following his release from a county jail on February 19. According to authorities, Shah Alam was dropped off at a coffee shop by US Border Patrol agents after his release.

Shah Alam’s body was discovered by police officers in the city on Tuesday evening. The Buffalo Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Mayor Sean Ryan stated that Shah Alam’s death occurred due to “inhumane” decision-making by federal immigration authorities, which left him alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe location.

Several US representatives have called for an investigation into the circumstances of Shah Alam’s death, including Grace Meng and Mohamad Faisal, one of his children. Faisal stated that Shah Alam was a Rohingya refugee from Rakhine state in Myanmar, who could not read or write due to his impaired vision. He had been arrested a year ago after being mistaken for trespassing on private property while carrying a walking stick.

US Customs and Border Patrol officials claim that agents dropped Shah Alam off at the coffee shop as a courtesy ride to a warm and safe location near his last known address. However, temperatures in Buffalo were below freezing last weekend, and Shah Alam’s death is being investigated by homicide detectives.

Source: Al Jazeera