Press Releases

Congressman Kennedy Leads Congressional Letter Demanding Federal Investigation into Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam

Buffalo, NY, February 27, 2026 BUFFALO, N.Y. – Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), alongside Ranking Members Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (NY-06), sent an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem demanding an immediate and comprehensive federal investigation into the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam in Buffalo, New York. “The tragic death of Mr. Shah Alam is a moral failure that demands answers and a thorough investigation,” said “What happened to Mr. Shah Alam is a heartbreaking failure that raises serious questions DHS must answer for,” said “The death of Mr. Shah Alam is the result of at least staggering recklessness and coldhearted indifference. It is an American tragedy and an American disgrace. This kind of cruelty is now one more five-alarm wake-up call for a country already reeling from violent deaths caused in American streets by federal agents,” said “Nurul Amin Shah Alam should be alive today. He is dead because U.S. Border Patrol agents abandoned a blind refugee miles away from home and then lied to cover it up. Video footage proves that Mr. Alam was left outside of a coffee shop that was closed, not a ‘warm, safe location’ as they claimed. The Department of Homeland Security’s cruelty, callousness, and indifference to human life is absolutely sickening. As Members of Congress, we demand answers and justice for his family. The Department of Homeland Security must be held accountable,” said Mr. Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee with legal status in the United States, was reported missing on February 19, 2026, shortly after being released from custody and transported by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP). According to publicly available reporting and information provided by his family, Mr. Shah Alam was nearly blind, did not speak English, and was unable to independently navigate transportation. He had fled persecution in Burma and arrived in the United States in December 2024 seeking safety. The letter outlines serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding his release. USBP reportedly transported Mr. Shah Alam from Erie County custody and left him at a coffee shop miles from his family’s residence during winter. He was not reunited with family members, and questions remain about what accommodations, if any, were made to account for his severe visual impairment and language barriers. Mr. Shah Alam was found deceased on February 24, several days after he was reported missing. In the letter, Congressman Kennedy and his colleagues demand a full timeline of events and a transparent accounting of DHS policies and actions that may have contributed to this tragedy. The letter makes clear that this case raises broader questions about federal transportation and release practices for vulnerable individuals in custody. It calls for coordination with state and local officials, full transparency to the public, and accountability where failures occurred. See the full text of the letter below: February 27, 2026 The Honorable Kristi Noem Dear Secretary Noem, We write to demand an immediate investigation into the tragic death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Burmese refugee who was found deceased in the City of Buffalo on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, after being transported and subsequently neglected by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP). As Members of Congress with the responsibility to conduct oversight of this administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its inhumane – at times deadly – treatment of immigrants, we must hold this administration accountable for any negligence, wrongdoing, or breach of protocol that resulted in a death. Accordingly, we demand a comprehensive investigation into the sequence of events that led to Mr. Shah Alam’s death, including DHS’s responsibility that may have contributed to this preventable tragedy. Mr. Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee with legal status, was reported missing on February 19, 2026, shortly after release by USBP. Mr. Shah Alam was largely blind and did not speak English, coming to the United States on December 24, 2024 after fleeing persecution in Burma, where Rohingya people have faced systemic oppression and genocide. According to publicly available information, on February 19th, USBP took Mr. Shah Alam from Erie County custody, transporting him to a coffee shop miles from his family’s residence. According to his family, Mr. Shah Alam had a severe disability, could not read, write, or use a phone, and could not communicate independently. Despite these significant occupational challenges and the inability to find shelter or safety on his own, USBP abandoned Mr. Shah Alam at an unsafe location in the middle of winter, without proper care, and without his family to ensure his safety. This tragedy raises serious questions about USBP’s responsibility surrounding the circumstances that contributed to Mr. Shah Alam’s death, as well as DHS’s transportation and release protocols for vulnerable individuals from federal law enforcement custody. This administration’s inhumane, abhorrent treatment of immigrants has resulted in entirely preventable deaths and it is our responsibility as Members of Congress to conduct oversight into these matters. In addition to a full timeline of the events involving USBP, we demand a comprehensive, transparent investigation into Mr. Shah Alam’s case and request that the Department provide answers to the following questions no later than March 5, 2026. The death of Mr. Shah Alam was entirely preventable. DHS has a moral and legal obligation to conduct a full and transparent investigation, in coordination with state and local officials, to ensure accountability, answer to the American people, and provide justice for the Shah Alam family. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your response. Sincerely, Congressman Timothy M. Kennedy Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson Ranking Member Jamie Raskin Congresswoman Grace Meng

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