Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a disabled Rohingya refugee, died five days after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents left him at a Buffalo doughnut shop in subzero temperatures. His body was found on a city street, sparking outrage over the Department of Homeland Security’s treatment of vulnerable immigrants. Alam’s widow, Fatimah Abdul Roshid, described the trauma: “We thought we were safe here because we had papers… but now our community is scared the way they were scared in other countries.”

Buffalo’s Arakan Rohingya community, numbering around 2,000, has faced systemic persecution in Myanmar and now grapples with fear of recurrence. Activist Mohamad Rahman Imam Hussein noted their resilience: “We have to learn everything from scratch” after fleeing genocide. The community contributes to Buffalo’s economy, with Rohingya-owned businesses revitalizing historic neighborhoods near the Central Terminal.

The incident occurred after Alam, 56, was arrested in February 2025 for trespassing and released into Border Patrol custody. His family feared ICE detention, leading to a plea deal and release. No one informed them he’d been abandoned at the shop. Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, is investigating the death and Border Patrol’s role. Emails to CBP remain unanswered, deepening distrust.

This tragedy highlights systemic failures in U.S. immigration policy, particularly for stateless refugees. The Rohingya, who tripled Jericho Road Health Center’s patient load since 2023, now face uncertainty as Trump’s refugee freeze looms. Their advocacy for safety and inclusion underscores a broader struggle for dignity in a nation built on immigration.