Refugee Congress Demands Accountability Following the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam

Refugee Congress is horrified and heartbroken by the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee who was reportedly abandoned in freezing conditions in Buffalo after release from custody. A man who was nearly blind, spoke no English, and had already survived persecution should never have been left to fend for himself in a city he did not know. This was not a bureaucratic oversight; it was a catastrophic failure of care and basic human responsibility.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must be held accountable for their continued use of practices that endanger lives. The tragedy of Nurul Amin Shah Alam dying alone was preventable. Releasing vulnerable people into unsafe conditions without coordination, support, or safeguards is reckless and inhumane. Refugee resettlement is meant to provide protection and stability.  There must be a full investigation, transparency, and immediate policy changes to ensure no one else is subjected to such neglect.