This is a developing story, as more information is gathered this page will be updated.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan has revealed more details, and offered a rebuke toward U.S. Border Patrol officers, about the discovery of the deceased man who had gone missing after being released from federal custody last week.
Buffalo Police confirmed that Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, was found deceased when B district officers responded to a call in the first block of Perry Street shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25. He had been released by federal officers February 19, after he was freed from Erie County custody.
"A border patrol agent picked up this man from Holding Center custody, drove him to an ICE facility, and the ICE facility said we don't want this guy," said Ryan Thursday morning following a news conference on an unrelated subject. "Then the border patrol officers had no protocol of what to do with the disabled man who doesn't speak English, who is confused and lost. And you know what they did? They dropped them at a closed coffee shop."
Reports indicate Alam was dropped off at a Tim Hortons location on Niagara Street near Ontario Avenue. Ryan says it is his understanding that the store closes at 7 p.m.
The Erie County Medical Examiner positively identified Alam Wednesday morning, after which his family was notified.
He had been in the U.S. since 2024 under a legal refugee status from Southeast Asia.
Initial reports from police investigators indicated the medical examiner's office had found Alam's death was "health related in nature," ruling out exposure or homicide. However, the Erie County Health Department issued a statement Thursday evening saying the cause was not yet determined: "The Erie County Department of Health needs to correct errors widely reported in media related to this week’s death of an individual, Nurul Amin Shah Alam. Despite reports that our Medical Examiner’s Office has established a cause and manner of death, we have not provided that information to anyone. Our Office is still investigating, this case is still pending, and we do not have a timeline for when our investigation will be complete.
"When we do have our findings, we will share them with appropriate law enforcement agencies and others legally entitled to that information. We do not have any other information to release."
In a statement, the Buffalo Police Department said homicide detectives "are investigating the circumstances and timeframe of events leading up to his death, following his release from custody."
Alam went missing after being taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol, following his release from Erie County custody. He had pleaded guilty, as part of a plea deal, for a trespassing and weapon incident involving a curtain rod he was using as a walking stick according to the Investigative Post.
Alam was in Erie County custody since that February 2025 incident in Buffalo's Riverside neighborhood. Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane offered an explanation on how the court process played out:
"Following a careful review of the facts and discussions with his defense counsel, I exercised my prosecutorial discretion to offer a reduced plea in the interest of justice. My decision was the result of a comprehensive evaluation of his conduct, criminal history, acceptance of responsibility, medical condition, time served in pre-trial custody, and the proposed resolution," said Keane in a written statement. "I also considered the significant collateral consequences that would result from a felony conviction - including mandatory deportation. The police officers and another complainant were advised of the plea offer and would have the opportunity to be heard by the judge at the time of sentencing."
On Monday, February 9, 2026, Keane said Alam pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a misdemeanor, and one count of Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree, also a misdemeanor. His bail was set at $5,000 cash or bond, with sentencing scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
But Keane said Alam's release from Erie County custody while under an immigration detainer from federal authorities was not something he thought was supposed to happen.
"At the time of the plea, it was our understanding and agreement with defense counsel that he would remain in custody on bail while pending sentence. Our office was not aware of his release until yesterday," said Keane. "We have been informed that the federal immigration detainer remained in place at the time his bond was posted on Thursday, February 19, 2026. My office will move to dismiss the charges upon receipt of his death certificate. As the District Attorney, I want to protect the safety of everyone in our community. My office will continue our review of this matter to determine whether any lessons can be learned to help prevent future tragedies. My thoughts remain the family and friends of Mr. Shah Alam as they grieve his passing."
A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection in Buffalo issued the following statement Wednesday evening:
"On February 19, 2026, Erie County Sheriff’s Department alerted Border Patrol about a non-citizen in their custody. Our agents confirmed that Mr. Shah Alam entered the United States as a refugee on December 24, 2024, and was not amenable to removal. 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."
On Thursday, in response to growing national attention of the story, Homeland Security repeated the message on its X account, but substituted "Buffalo Police Department" for "the Erie County Sheriff's Office" as was stated in the message from the Buffalo office.
Here are the FACTS.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 26, 2026
On February 19, 2026, Buffalo Police Department alerted Border Patrol about a non-citizen in their custody.
Our agents confirmed that Mr. Shah Alam entered the United States as a refugee on December 24, 2024, and was not amenable to removal.
Border Patrol… pic.twitter.com/6px8wWLKD4
Ryan suggests the sequence of events differ from how they were described. And he says this is an example of why his administration, including Buffalo Police, will not cooperate with ICE on immigration enforcement.
"What I do know is Border Patrol did not take him back to the holding center. If they had taken him back to the holding center, the desk sergeant could have reviewed his visitor log and showed that his son was a regular visitor. Here is his phone number. They could have showed that his lawyer was an active visitor. Here's his phone number, and they could have showed that his immigration lawyer was an active visitor, and here's his phone number," Ryan said. "There would have been ways to contact the family, so you didn't leave somebody out in the cold."
He referred to the handling of Alam as "bad policing, but it's also bad human beings." Ryan also criticized the local office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for releasing a statement he says provided conclusions without conducting an investigation.
Congressman Timothy Kennedy (D, NY-26), in a joint statement released Thursday with Rep. Grace Meng, declared he and his peers will demand accountability from the Trump Administration. Later in the day, he announced he has formally requested New York State Attorney General Letitia James launch an investigation into the matter.
