Press Releases

Kennedy Joined by Ranking Members Thompson and Raskin, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Meng in Oversight Letter to DHS Secretary Noem

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 Congressman Tim Kennedy. “A man who fled persecution, who was nearly blind, and unable to communicate in English, was left alone in the dead of winter to fend for himself. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, but rather a predictable result of the culture of cruelty that has taken hold at DHS under Trump and Kristi Noem. His family is owed clarity, and the American people deserve a full accounting of how this happened, and how similar tragedies will be prevented from ever happening again.”

“What happened to Mr. Shah Alam is a heartbreaking failure that raises serious questions DHS must answer for,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security. “DHS’s actions were a stunning display of carelessness and cruelty that Congress has a responsibility to fully investigate and ensure never happens again. I thank Congressman Kennedy for leading on this matter.”

“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 Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. “I salute my colleague Rep. Tim Kennedy on his fierce leadership and determination not to let this catastrophe be swept under any MAGA bureaucrat’s rug.”

“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 Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

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 
Secretary 
Department of Homeland Security 
2707 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, S.E. 
Washington, D.C. 20528  

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.^[1] Tragically, several days after he was reported missing, Mr. Shah Alam was found dead on the night of February 24th. 

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.

1. What was the justification behind USBP’s involvement in transporting Mr. Shah Alam? Were any other DHS components involved in his transport? 
2. What is CBP’s protocol for transporting and releasing vulnerable individuals with disabilities? 
3. What are the standard protocols for “courtesy rides” for transportees that USBP has referenced in statements? Given Mr. Shah Alam was blind and barely spoke English, how was the decision made to drop him somewhere other than his home? 
   1. What steps, if any, were taken to ensure Mr. Shah Alam’s continuity of care upon his release, given his complex medical conditions?
   2. What translation or interpretation services were offered to Mr. Shah Alam during transit?
   3. Why was Mr. Shah Alam left at a coffee shop rather than a home address?
   4. What clothing was Mr. Shah Alam wearing when he was released by USBP? Was he provided any warm clothing given the winter weather? 
4. When was DHS notified of Mr. Shah Alam’s release, and why was USBP made responsible for his custody? 
   1. At what point did USBP coordination with Erie County officials fail?
5. A USBP spokesperson stated that Mr. Shah Alam was “not amenable to removal.” When was this determination made?
6. What contact, if any, was made with Mr. Shah Alam’s family prior to his release? 
7. Mr. Shah Alam had been missing since February 19th. What actions, if any, were taken by DHS between February 19th and February 24th to attempt to locate Mr. Shah Alam? 
8. Will CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility conduct any disciplinary or remedial actions to ensure DHS personnel involved are held accountable for any potential wrongdoing? 
9. How will CBP classify Mr. Shah Alam’s death?
10. What processes or procedures have been immediately put in place following Mr. Shah Alam’s death to ensure this never happens again?

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
House Committee on Homeland Security

Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson
House Committee on Homeland Security

Ranking Member Jamie Raskin
House Judiciary Committee

Congresswoman Grace Meng
Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

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