Nearly blind refugee found dead in Buffalo
By Emily Mae Czachor
Updated on: February 26, 2026 / 10:17 AM EST / CBS News
Officials in upstate New York are demanding an investigation into the death of a refugee who was found dead in Buffalo this week, after being released from the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, suffered from various medical conditions, including visual impairment, with his attorney describing him as nearly blind and unable to speak English, CBS affiliate WIVB reported. He was found dead Tuesday night, several days after Border Patrol agents left him at a Tim Horton's restaurant in the area, according to the station. The cause was determined to be health-related.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called Alam's death "preventable," "deeply disturbing" and "a dereliction of duty by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection" in a statement.
"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. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane," Ryan said, adding: "Buffalo is a city that welcomes refugees and believes government should protect human dignity, not endanger it. U.S. Customs and Border Protection failed that basic standard" ...
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nearly-blind-man-dies-buffalo-border-patrol-release-investigation/
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