Kristi Noem Told 'Lawyer Up' Over Blind Refugee's Death - Newsweek

Homeland Security Democrats told DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to "lawyer up" after new video footage emerged that raised questions about the official account of the circumstances in which a blind refugee—who later died—was dropped off by U.S. Border Patrol agents several miles from his home in Buffalo, New York.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, was found dead in downtown Buffalo days after being released into the care of Border Patrol agents.

"DHS LEFT A MAN TO DIE AND LIED," Homeland Security Democrats said in a post on X. "DHS goons left Mr. Shah Alam outside A CLOSED BUILDING in the freezing cold and called it a 'warm, safe location.' Republicans cannot shield you forever. @Sec_Noem, lawyer up."

Responding to the Democrats' post, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) repeated its view that Shah Alam had not shown signs of distress or mobility issues before agents dropped him off.

Why It Matters

Noem has come under repeated scrutiny from Democrats in Congress over the past year as the head of a department that has overseen widespread immigration enforcement operations and targeted actions against specific individuals. While DHS has maintained that it is working within the law and swiftly moved to defend its agents' actions, lawmakers and immigration advocacy groups have argued that evidence often shows a different story.

What To Know

Shah Alam was dropped off by Border Patrol agents outside a coffee shop that was closed, according to surveillance footage obtained by the Investigative Post. The footage contradicted the DHS statement that said Shah Alam had been offered a "courtesy ride" to a coffee shop that was determined by Border Patrol agents to be "a warm, safe location."

The 56-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, who arrived in the U.S. with his wife and two children in December 2024, was detained by Border Patrol agents on February 19 after his release from a county jail but was let go that same day after federal authorities determined he was not eligible for deportation.

His family wasn’t informed he had been released, according to the Investigative Post, which first reported his death.

According to a timeline released by the Buffalo Police Department on Thursday, a passer-by had called 911 at about 8:30 p.m. to report an "unresponsive male wearing a dark parka and khaki pants who appeared not to be breathing, with his hands described as gray in color."

The caller said she had seen the man moving at about 5:30 p.m. but contacted 911 after observing that he was no longer moving when she passed by the location again at about 8:30 p.m. Police said fire department personnel initiated chest compressions and police officers administered Narcan. Emergency medical arrived on the scene and pronounced the man dead.

The department said cameras in the area had been offline since February 19 "due to prior criminal mischief to infrastructure that supports the camera network."

The police department told reporters that the Erie County Medical Examiner concluded that the death was "health related" and ruled out exposure or homicide. But the Erie County Department of Health disputed that account, saying no determination had been made.

Shah Alam’s involvement with local law enforcement stemmed from an incident on February 15 last year, when he was out for a walk using a curtain rod as a walking stick when he got lost, entered a stranger’s property and was arrested after officers confronted him with commands he did not understand, his attorney, Benjamin Macaluso, told the Investigative Post.

He pleaded guilty on February 9 to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and possession of a weapon and was scheduled to be sentenced in March. After the plea agreement, he was released on bail, but since federal Border Patrol had lodged an immigration detainer after his arrest, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office followed standard practice and informed the federal agency about his pending release.

Macaluso said he and the family searched for him and he reported Shah Alam missing on February 22 after learning that a local immigration detention center didn’t have him in custody.

What People Are Saying

*A CBP spokesperson told Newsweek on Friday: *"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 U.S. Border Patrol defers to the Buffalo Police Department for further questions.”

*Representative Timothy Kennedy, a New York Democrat, wrote to New York State Attorney General Letitia James: *"The death of Mr. Shah Alam is a tragedy that should have never happened. A full, transparent, and independent investigation at the local, state, and federal levels is essential to ensuring accountability, restoring public trust, and delivering justice for the Shah Alam family."

*New York Attorney General Letitia James, in a statement: *“Nurul Amin Shah Alam fled genocide and came to this country in search of safety and opportunity. Instead, his life was tragically cut short. No one who comes here seeking refuge should be left in harm’s way. My office is reviewing our legal options. My thoughts are with Mr. Shah Alam's family and loved ones as they mourn this devastating loss.”

*Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan, a Democrat, in a statement on Wednesday: *"The preventable death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam is deeply disturbing and a dereliction of duty by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 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. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must answer for how and why this happened. 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."

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether a lawsuit will be filed against Noem or DHS over Alam's death, but James said her office was reviewing options.

Update 2/27/26, 10:57 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

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