Press Releases

Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) sent the below letter today to Attorney General Letitia James in response to the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam in Buffalo, New York.

See the text of the full letter below:

February 26, 2026

Honorable Letitia James

Office of the Attorney General

The Capitol

Albany, NY 12224

Dear Attorney General James,

I write to formally request that your office initiate a comprehensive investigation into the tragic death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, who was found deceased in the City of Buffalo on Tuesday, February 24. As a Member of Congress representing this community, I believe this matter warrants an urgent review. Mr. Shah Alam’s family and the public deserve clear answers and accountability. 

According to publicly available information, Mr. Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee who was largely blind and did not speak English, had been missing for five days after being left at a Tim Hortons in Buffalo by U.S. Border Patrol agents. It has been reported that his family was not notified and he was left without assistance, despite communication and mobility barriers. Mr. Shah Alam came to the United States in December 2024 after fleeing persecution in Burma, where the Rohingya people have faced systemic violence and denial of citizenship. He sought safety, stability, and the opportunity to live securely with his family. Instead, after just 15 months in this country, his family is now grieving an unimaginable loss.

The circumstances surrounding Mr. Shah Alam’s death raise serious questions regarding the release and transfer protocols of vulnerable individuals from law enforcement custody. A thorough and independent review must examine the standards of care applicable in such circumstances, the notification procedures when releasing individuals with language, vision, or mobility limitations, and whether appropriate coordination occurred with family members, local authorities, or other responsible parties. The investigation should determine whether established policies were followed and, if so, why those safeguards failed. Beyond establishing what occurred in Mr. Shah Alam’s case, the review should also assess whether changes are necessary to prevent this situation from ever occurring again in the future.

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. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you have any questions, I welcome your call.

Sincerely,

Timothy M. Kennedy

Member of Congress, NY-26

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