The Department of Homeland Security insisted that a blind refugee from Burma who was found dead after being abandoned by agents had no disabilities.
According to Investigate Post, agents dropped off Nurul Amin Shah Alam at a doughnut shop last week, 5 miles away from his home. Buffalo police later found the man dead in the snow.
City Hall spokesperson Ian Ott said homicide detectives were investigating the death.
On Thursday, two days after the body was found, DHS released a statement claiming the “Buffalo Police Department alerted Border Patrol about a non-citizen in their custody.”
“Our agents confirmed that Mr. Shah Alam entered the United States as a refugee on December 24, 2024, and was not amenable to removal,” the statement said. “Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station.”
“He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance,” the agency added.
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof followed up with a series of questions that had not been answered by the time of publication.
