Investigate Death of Nearly Blind Refugee Held By CBP

He came here for safety. He could barely see. And after being released by U.S. Border Patrol into the freezing cold of Buffalo, he was found dead.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a refugee from Myanmar with severe vision impairment, had been in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody before agents released him in dangerous winter conditions. Advocates say he struggled to navigate independently and needed assistance. Instead of support, he was put out into the cold.

Days later, Nurul Amin Shah Alam was gone.

CBP has a legal and moral obligation to protect people in its custody — especially those with serious medical disabilities. Releasing a nearly blind refugee into freezing weather without a safe, coordinated plan demands accountability.

Tell CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott: “Launch an independent investigation into the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam. Hold those responsible accountable and implement enforceable protections to prevent more deaths caused by immigration officers.”