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Rohingya Refugee Found Dead After Border Patrol Drop-off

2/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee, was found dead in Buffalo, New York, five days after Border Patrol dropped him off miles from home.
He had been missing since February 19 after release from Erie County Holding Center; his attorney said he was to be taken to an ICE facility.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan condemned the Border Patrol as unprofessional and inhumane, and officials called for a comprehensive inquiry.

History

Historical Context

The Rohingya crisis intensified in 2017 when over 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar to Bangladesh amid violent military crackdowns, with the UN estimating nearly 1 million now reside in Bangladesh. This ongoing humanitarian emergency highlights the systemic persecution faced by the Rohingya, a stateless group denied citizenship in Myanmar since the 1982 nationality law, raising urgent calls for reform and protection of vulnerable populations.

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Story summary

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee, was found dead in Buffalo, New York, five days after Border Patrol dropped him off miles from home.
He had been missing since February 19 after release from Erie County Holding Center; his attorney said he was to be taken to an ICE facility.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan condemned the Border Patrol as unprofessional and inhumane, and officials called for a comprehensive inquiry.

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