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Rep. Kennedy Wants Federal Answers on the Death of a Rohingya Refugee Left in the Buffalo Cold

By Gabriella Baiano|Posted: Mar 28, 2026 / 3:44 PM UTC

Congressman Tim Kennedy has sent a formal letter to the DHS demanding a full investigation into how Nurul Amin Shah Alam ended up stranded in Buffalo in the middle of winter โ€” and never made it home.

WHY IT MATTERS: This isn't just about one man's tragedy โ€” it's about whether the federal agents operating in Buffalo are being held to any standard of basic human responsibility.

Congressman Tim Kennedy sent a formal oversight letter to the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, demanding a comprehensive federal investigation into the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam โ€” a Rohingya refugee who died in Buffalo after allegedly being dropped off by federal authorities with nowhere to go in the dead of winter.

Shah Alam couldn't communicate in English, and according to accounts of that night, he was left completely on his own. Kennedy's letter takes direct aim at the DHS's version of events, pointing to significant gaps and inconsistencies in what the agency has said happened.

"A man who fled persecution was abandoned in the dead of winter to fend for himself," Kennedy wrote. He's pushing for a full accounting of the timeline, real policy transparency, and the kind of accountability that makes sure no one else in Western New York ends up in the same situation.

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Rep. Kennedy Wants Federal Answers on the Death of a Rohingya Refugee Left in the Buffalo Cold โ€” Stroubly