Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s Death Was a Homicide

Erie County's Medical Examiner ruled Wednesday that the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind Rohingya refugee left on Buffalo's streets by Border Patrol officers, was a homicide caused by complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration. Shah Alam, who spoke little English and had no family or legal representation notified of his location, died after being arrested for holding a curtain rod he used as a walking stick and subsequently incarcerated for a year. Erie County officials stressed the homicide designation does not imply criminal intent, but County Executive Mark Poloncarz said "the death was one that we believe could have been prevented." New York Attorney General Letitia James is continuing a state-level investigation, and Rep. Tim Kennedy called on newly-confirmed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to order an independent investigation into the department's handling of the case.