1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

Nurul Amin Shah Alam was detained last week in Buffalo. He was here legally as a documented Rohingya immigrant. He spoke almost no English and was blind. There was no lawful basis to deny his constitutional rights, but DHS took him into custody. When they determined he was legally present, they were obligated to ensure his safe release and return home. Nurul Amin was released alone, in freezing temperatures, in a coffee shop parking lot - not the county facility where he had been taken, his family was not contacted, his lawyer was not notified - he was not escorted home, despite living only a few miles away. A blind man, in below-freezing weather, left to fend for himself. DHS claimed he had been taken to a “safe and warm location.” Security footage shows the lobby was closed. He was not safe, not warm - and alone in 20ºF weather. On Tuesday, Nurul Amin Shah Alam was found dead. Do I need to demand immediate investigation and accountability? What I want is you to tell me there ISN'T a pattern of Black and brown immigrants, non-English speakers and people with disabilities treated as disposable. When an agency repeatedly produces abuse, deception and preventable death - it is incompatible with justice. We must replace ICE and DHS with systems of true public safety. For everyone.