Nurul Amin Shah Alam was found dead on Perry Street due to complications from an ulcer that resulted from hypothermia and dehydration.
Originally from Myanmar, Alam arrived in the U.S. in 2024 “in search of opportunity for his family.” Alam and his family are Arakhan Rohingya, a stateless ethnic minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine state facing severe persecution and displacement.
While striving to provide for his family, Alam faced significant challenges due to his inability to read, write and limited English proficiency. On Feb. 15, 2025, Alam was arrested by the Buffalo Police Department after allegedly entering a fenced rear yard while carrying two long black poles. A persistent language barrier made communication difficult, ultimately contributing to his arrest and detainment for a little over a year.
On Feb. 19, 2026, Alam was released from Erie County Holding center to federal authorities, who then gave him a courtesy ride to a Tim Hortons location in Buffalo’s Black Rock neighborhood. As his family frantically searched for him, a call was later received reporting an unresponsive man on Perry Street. That man was confirmed to be Alam.
The death of Alam sparked outrage, frustration and confusion among Buffalo natives resulting in multiple protests calling for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Even among students at UB, organizations such as the Myanmar Student Association (MYSA) have expressed frustration and uneasiness following the death of Alam, while continuing to serve as a safe space for refugees and students alike, prioritizing an environment rooted in comfort and community.
“The Tim Hortons where he was dropped off is only a 12-minute walk from my house. I felt like this incident was especially close, not only because he's from Myanmar, but it was happening right by me,” Soe-Sanda Phyo, a senior urban and public policy studies and global affairs major shares. Phyo also serves as the social action chair of MYSA.
Other members of MYSA expressed shock and sadness when the news of Alam’s death spread, not only because he hailed from their country of origin, but above all, because he was a human being. A man working to take care of his family, provide a better life for his children and hoping the U.S. would mark the end of a perilous journey shaped by persecution, where normality can finally begin.
“The story is very sad for me to hear, given that my parents are refugees. Knowing he was a human being who had kids and a family to take care of, it must have been very devastating. People come here, to America, looking for a better life” Matthew Chou, a junior political science and global affairs major, and president of MYSA shares.
But for some, this situation sparked anxiety, particularly among Buffalo residents who had also sought refuge after obtaining refugee status. Hein Htet Aung, an electrical engineering major and cultural chair of MYSA, shared the similarities between his own journey and Alam’s.
“I know that Alam arrived in the United States in Dec. 2024, a difference of only 4 months between us. Life back then was tough, really tough, but my family and I always thought settling in America would be the end of this journey. Alam’s death really impacted me, because it’s possible that can happen to me,” Aung shares.
The brutality of Alam's death has left many refugees in a state of uneasiness, forcing some to question whether the American dream was as promising as once believed. Nonetheless, MYSA stands as a pillar of support and hope for refugees and Myanmar students alike.
“As president of the Myanmar Student Association, one of my specific goals was to create a safe space for Myanmar students, but also for refugees in general. I feel like there’s a lack of education and knowledge about refugees, with minimal discussion of their struggles through classes,” Chou shares.
Members of MYSA want it to be known that the U.S. would not be what it is without the hard work and dedication of immigrants. The persecution and continued neglect of this community remain matters of deep concern, while emphasizing the vital role immigrants play in American society.
“This country was partially developed by the labor of immigrants. Whether they be Chinese immigrants, Indian immigrants, Burmese immigrants, we belong here,” Phyo shares.
For many members, those concerns are deeply personal, as the struggles faced by immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S. echo the ongoing persecution still taking place abroad. Even today, the persecution of Rohingya muslims in Myanmar continues, with an estimated 24,000 deaths and more than 700,000 people forced to flee. The killings and repression have been carried out by Tatmadaw — the armed forces of Myanmar — who remain steadfast in preserving the Rohingya people’s stateless status.
“One thing we usually talk about in Myanmar is the idea that the government cannot do really good things, but they can do really bad things,” Aung shares.
The death of Alam has brought necessary awareness to the suffering taking place in Myanmar, but Phyo expresses that the situation has also exposed the carelessness of law enforcement that led to the death of an innocent man.
Phyo challenges both Buffalo and New York officials to confront the circumstances surrounding Alam’s death.
“If Buffalo is the city of good neighbors, then I think it has to do things to live up to its name. Certainly letting government officials handle things so negligently and crassly is not indicative of a city of good neighbors. So I, a long time buffalo native challenge not only Buffalo and New York state to this question. Are we the type of people we say we are?”
Saqib Khan is the assistant features editor and can be reached at saqib.khan@ubspectrum.com
