1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam in Buffalo, New York demonstrates exactly why Utah should not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol. This 56-year-old nearly blind refugee from Myanmar died five days after Border Patrol agents dropped him off alone at a closed coffee shop wearing only orange booties from detention, not shoes. His body was found approximately four miles from where agents left him. Shah Alam entered the United States legally as a refugee on December 24, 2024. After spending nearly a year in Erie County jail on misdemeanor charges stemming from a misunderstanding, his bond was posted on February 19. As his release was being processed, Border Patrol agents arrived and determined he was not amenable to removal. Despite this, they took custody of him anyway and dropped him at a closed business without notifying his family or attorney of his whereabouts. Border Patrol claimed they offered Shah Alam a courtesy ride to a warm, safe location and that he showed no signs of distress or mobility issues. This directly contradicts the fact that he was nearly blind, spoke little English, did not read or write, and was wearing jail booties in February weather. Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called the incident deeply disturbing and preventable, stating that agents had no protocol for handling a disabled man who does not speak English. Shah Alam was an Arakan Rohingya refugee fleeing genocide in Myanmar. He came to America seeking safety and wanted only to eat home-cooked food and be united with his family. Instead, federal agents left him confused and alone, leading to his death. I urge you to oppose any cooperation between Utah law enforcement and ICE or Border Patrol. This tragedy shows that such cooperation puts vulnerable people at serious risk, even those who entered our country legally as refugees. Utah should follow Buffalo's example and refuse to participate in operations that treat human beings with such callous disregard for their safety and dignity.