BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee who was found dead in Buffalo five days after he was mistakenly taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and then released, was laid to rest on Thursday.
Shah Alam was 56 years old. He arrived in Buffalo as a refugee in December 2024 with his wife and two of his children.
Earlier this week, Buffalo police reported he was missing and said he was last seen near the intersection of Niagara and Ontario Streets. He was found dead on Perry Street in Downtown Buffalo on Tuesday night.
The missing persons report was filed after he was mistakenly taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and then released.
A CBP Spokesperson released the following statement to 7 News:
"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."
WATCH: Community mourns man who was found dead after he was mistakenly taken into custody by CBP, then released
Khaleda Shah, a family friend and spokesperson, said the family is calling for justice.
"We do not want his death to just go to waste," Khaleda said. "We want his death to bring awareness to his community, his family, his community at large. We want his name, his story to be a voice for those who are still suffering."
Another attendee, Sahi Chowdhury, reflected on the grief of Shah Alam's family.
"There is no words to say. The family members...especially his two kids. I just met them today. Seeing their face. They lost their father," Chowdhury said.
Khaleda explained Shah Alam's heritage and identity.
"He is an Arakan Rohingya member, and we want their tribe, their group, their roots to be recognized," Khaleda said. "He is not just a man who was born and passed. He is from the Arakan Rohingya refugee community. That is his identity and that is what I believe he would want to be recognized as, and he would want his people to be recognized as."
The Arakan Rohingya are an ethnic Muslim minority, many of whom were forced to flee from Myanmar to refugee camps. Shah Alam and his family fled to Malaysia before they were granted refugee status in the U.S.
Thursday afternoon began with a traditional Muslim funeral at the Madjid Zakariya Mosque on Sobieski Street. A procession then led to a cemetery on Stone Street, where about 100 mourners gathered.
Khaleda, who is acting as a spokesperson for the family, said the circumstances of Shah Alam's death have been weighing heavily on her.
"One thing that has been haunting me since the morning is we're all here right now, we're suited up. We have our boots, we have our sneakers, we have our jackets on and Mayor Sean Ryan was saying that when they left him at Tim Hortons, he didn't even have proper shoes on," Khaleda said. "I'm here all bundled up and still shivering here. He only had the booties that the jail provided and left him out in the cold like that. That's so inhumane."
The family is now seeking the support of all of Buffalo.
On Thursday afternoon, Congressman Tim Kennedy (D/NY-26) sent a letter today to New York State Attorney General Letitia James calling for a comprehensive "investigation" into Shah Alam's death.
Later Thursday, AG James issued a statement that her office is reviewing the legal options and said her thoughts are with Shah Alam's family.
New details have been released that provide a timeline of events following Shah Alam's death. You can find the full story here.
Later Thursday, dozens gathered in the Elmwood Village neighborhood to honor Shah Alam and show support for his family. Attendees huddled at the corner of Bidwell Parkway and Elmwood Avenue, holding photos of Shah Alam alongside candles.
WATCH: Buffalo community gathers to mourn refugee who died after being detained by CBP
Allison Swatsworth, a Western New Yorker and product of immigrants, said Shah Alam's death hits close to home.
"I was so sad to hear that his family has to go through this, and I just want to be a good neighbor," Swatsworth said.
Swatsworth said the grief felt across the community is rooted in something deeper.
"You need to take this sadness and realize that the sadness of the angry feeling is love," Swatsworth said. "A community wants to be out here and show his family that we're sorry that they lost him and we care about them."
She said she remains hopeful about the character of Buffalo residents.
"I believe in the goodness of our city. I believe that people here truly can be good neighbors, that we look out for each other," Swatsworth said.
James Gribbins, who has lived in Western New York for about 47 years after moving from downstate, said Shah Alam's death frightens him and does not reflect the Buffalo he has come to love.
"The people will not tolerate this, they really won't," Gribbins said.
Gribbins called the circumstances surrounding Shah Alam's death a failure of empathy.
"This is a callous action. All of this stuff is callous," Gribbins said. "It's lack of empathy, lack of caring about others. That's not what Buffalo is. It's not what the United States is."
As sorrow spreads across the city, so does a message of hope. Swatsworth encouraged community members to take small steps to support those around them.
"I think people who are feeling like it's hard to get involved, just do whatever you can to show the people that you care about in your neighborhood that you're here for them," Swatsworth said. "If people are scared or people need help and you don't know how to show up, just do the little things you can."
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
