The medical examiner in Buffalo has ruled that the death of a nearly blind man left alone by Border Patrol agents on a frigid night was a homicide, a finding that could lead to criminal charges.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, died in February after the agents dropped him off outside a closed Tim Hortons doughnut shop. His death triggered outrage in Buffalo and around the nation.
Dr. Gale R. Burstein, the Erie County Department of Health commissioner, said that Mr. Shah Alam’s death was caused by complications from an ulcer that bored through his intestines. The ulcer formed when hypothermia decreased blood flow, weakening the lining of his intestines, while dehydration led to a buildup of stomach acid that eroded his digestive system, she said.
“The symptoms of a perforated ulcer are severe pain,” Dr. Burstein said during a news conference on Wednesday. “It’s a medical emergency.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said that their agency was not culpable.
“Another hoax being peddled by the media and sanctuary politicians to demonize our law enforcement,” the officials said in a statement. “This death had NOTHING to do with Border Patrol. Mr. Shah Alam passed almost A WEEK AFTER he was released by Border Patrol.”
The state attorney general, Letitia James, said in a statement that her office was reviewing the case. The Erie County district attorney was also investigating.
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Medical Examiner Rules That a Rohingya Refugee’s Death Was a Homicide
