Press Releases
Congressman Kennedy Formally Requests Federal Investigation into Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam in Letter to New DHS Secretary
Washington, D.C.,
March 24, 2026
Tags:
Homeland Security
Kennedy Renews Calls for Accountability to Newly-Confirmed DHS Secretary Mullin BUFFALO, N.Y. – Today, Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) sent an oversight letter to the newly-confirmed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, demanding an immediate and comprehensive federal investigation into the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam in Buffalo, New York. This letter comes after Kennedy’s initial request demanding that former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem initiate an investigation. Kennedy has also secured a state-level inquiry into this tragedy from New York Attorney General Letitia James. “The tragic death of Mr. Shah Alam demands answers and a thorough federal investigation,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26). “A man who fled persecution, who was nearly blind and unable to communicate in English, was abandoned in the dead of winter to fend for himself. While there is a new Secretary at DHS, this tragedy underscores a deeper, systemic culture of cruelty that cannot be ignored. I will not relent in demanding accountability from this administration, including Secretary Mullin, until we have a complete accounting of what happened and clear assurances that no family will ever have to endure such a preventable loss again.” 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 DHS personnel. 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 navigate transportation independently. 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. DHS 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 demands 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:
The Honorable Markwayne Mullin Dear Secretary Mullin, As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Representative for Buffalo, New York, I write to request that you initiate an immediate, transparent, and complete investigation into the death of Mr. Nurul Amin Shah Alam that occurred in Buffalo in February 2026. As you may know, Mr. Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee with legal status, was reported missing on February 19, 2026, shortly after his release by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 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, DHS agents took Mr. Shah Alam from Erie County custody. Upon receiving notification that he, in fact, held legal status to be in the United States, DHS personnel transported him to a closed Tim Hortons 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, DHS abandoned Mr. Shah Alam at an unsafe location in the middle of winter, without proper care or clothing, and without his family to ensure his safety. Tragically, several days after he was reported missing, Mr. Shah Alam was found dead on the night of February 24th, miles away from the coffee shop. This tragedy raises serious questions about DHS’s involvement in the circumstances surrounding Mr. Shah Alam’s death, particularly given that DHS personnel were responsible for his release, as well as broader questions regarding the treatment of detained refugees in the U.S. legally. Following Mr. Shah Alam’s death, DHS claimed that Mr. Shah Alam accepted release from custody at the coffee shop, which they referred to as a warm and safe location.[1] However, contrary to DHS’s account, all facts indicate the shop was closed. Further, Mr. Shah Alam was not properly clothed and did not have the ability to directly communicate his wishes or needs. New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who is conducting a state-level investigation into the tragedy, has stated that “there is no reason to credit [DHS’s] account on the basis of known facts. Our information indicated that Mr. Shah Alam did not speak English, that the Rohingya dialect he spoke is exceedingly rare, and that the Tim Hortons location in question was closed for the night. The federal authorities’ unreliable account only raises further questions.”[2] In the aftermath of Mr. Shah Alam’s death, Members of Congress sent letters to your predecessor, Secretary Kristi Noem, urging the Department to conduct a full and transparent investigation to address inconsistencies surrounding DHS’s account of the death and provide justice for the Shah Alam family.[3] However, to date, DHS has not provided Members of Congress with the requested information about the case, nor have they initiated an investigation into a preventable death. In light of these glaring discrepancies and to begin to establish trust in communities across the country, it is essential that DHS commit to a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Shah Alam’s death. To that end, I respectfully urge you to provide answers to Mr. Shah Alam’s family, the American people, and the thousands of refugees who call the United States home. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Should you have any questions, I welcome your call. ### [1] https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2027112658164498596 |