Press ReleaseUrgent2026-06-02

Following the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, Kennedy Introduces DHS Release Transparency Act to Ensure Family Notification of Release

Immigration

Context

This press release from Representative Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY) was published on 2026-06-02 and titled "Following the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, Kennedy Introduces DHS Release Transparency Act to Ensure Family Notificati".

Full Text

Following the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, Kennedy Introduces DHS Release Transparency Act to Ensure Family Notification of Release

Shah Alam, a Rohingya Refugee with Legal Status, was Released by DHS Agents at a Closed Tim Hortons in the Buffalo Winter Without any Notice to Family Speaking Little to No English, Nearly Blind, and Without Shoes, Shah Alam Suffered for Days While his Family Desperately Tried to Find Him - Death has Been Ruled a Homicide BUFFALO, N.Y. - Standing under an etching of the Constitution and its promise that individuals cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without proper legal procedures, Congressman Tim Kennedy announced the introduction of the DHS Release Transparency Act. The legislation, inspired by the tragic and preventable death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to notify a detainee's chosen point of contact prior to release from DHS custody. After Shah Alam’s release from local custody, he was immediately taken into custody by DHS, who erroneously believed he lacked legal status. Upon receiving confirmation that he was indeed legally present in the United States, the DHS agents, rather than notifying his loved ones of his status, dropped Shah Alam at an unsafe, unfamiliar location – a closed Tim Hortons restaurant on a wintery Buffalo night. Shah Alam was nearly blind, did not speak English, suffered from mobility issues, and was not equipped with proper clothing to safely be outside. He was found dead five days later. Watch the full press conference here. Kenndy’s legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Bennie G. Thompson, Jamie Raskin, Grace Meng, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, Adriano Espaillat, Troy Carter, and James Walkinshaw. This bill is endorsed by the National Immigrant Justice Center and Global Refuge. “Nurul Amin Shah Alam and his family came to Buffalo seeking the American dream,” said Congressman Kennedy. “They fled war and persecution, seeking the ability to build a new life for themselves in a country that respected their right to worship, that provided economic opportunity, and that welcomed them not just as refugees, but as neighbors. Less than a year and a half later, he was dead. This death was preventable, and it points to the clear need to demand better of ICE and CBP. My legislation does just that.” “No family should be left wondering whether their loved one is safe after being released from DHS custody. The death of Mr. Shah Alam exposed a glaring failure that put a blind man in serious danger with tragic consequences that could have been avoided. I thank Congressman Kennedy for introducing this legislation to ensure transparency at DHS and help make sure a tragedy like this never happens again,” said Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson . “Nobody should vanish into government custody and then be cast out alone into danger without so much as a call to their family. This bill injects a basic measure of humanity and compassion to a system that failed Nurul Amin Shah Alam in the most devastating way. I’m proud to support Rep. Kennedy's legislation and admire his leadership,” said Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin . “DHS agents left a vulnerable man who did not speak English to die in the freezing cold and then lied to cover it up. We must hold DHS accountable for this heartbreaking tragedy. That is why I am co-sponsoring Rep. Kennedy’s DHS Release Transparency Act to bring much-needed reforms to ICE and CBP and ensure that every person has a trusted point of contact for release, regardless of the language they speak. Nurul Amin Shah Alam should still be alive today, and we will continue to demand justice in his name,” said Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) . Currently, neither ICE nor CBP provide notice to a point of contact or family member when a detainee is released. When a detainee is released from ICE custody, they are notified personally of the upcoming release and typically provided the opportunity to make a free phone call to facilitate release arrangements. These standards, dictated by the Performance Based National Detention Standards (issued in 2011 and revised in 2016), are not codified, vary across ICE facilities, and are not always adhered to. Shah Alam was held in CBP custody, which has no codified policy that requires notifying family or an attorney of a release. The DHS Release Transparency Act closes this gap, requiring DHS to make families aware of their loved one’s upcoming release in order to ensure their safety. Recognizing that Shah Alam had significant communication and translation challenges while in custody, the bill requires DHS to provide translation and interpretation services throughout the entire point-of-contact (POC) notification process. This includes ensuring the detainee is made aware of the POC notification option in a language that they can understand. It also requires DHS to notify the designated point of contact in a language they can also understand prior to

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Following the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, Kennedy Introduces DHS Release Transparency Act to Ensure Family Notification of Release Shah Alam, a Rohingya Refugee with Legal Status, was Released by DHS Agents at a Closed Tim Hortons in the Buffalo Winter Without any Notice to Family Speaking Little to No English, Nearly Blind, and Without Shoes, Shah Alam Suffered for Days While his Family Desperately Tried to Find Him - Death has Been Ruled a Homicide BUFFALO, N.Y. - Standing under an etching of the Constitution and its promise that individuals cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without proper legal procedures, Congressman Tim Kennedy announced the introduction of the DHS Release Transparency Act. The legislation, inspired by the tragic and preventable death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to notify a detainee's chosen point of contact prior to release from DHS custody. After Shah Alam’s release from local custody, he was immediately taken into custody by DHS, who erroneously believed he lacked legal status. Upon receiving confirmation that he was indeed legally present in the United States, the DHS agents, rather than notifying his loved ones of his status, dropped Shah Alam at an unsafe, unfamiliar location – a closed Tim Hortons restaurant on a wintery Buffalo night. Shah Alam was nearly blind, did not speak English, suffered from mobility issues, and was not equipped with proper clothing to safely be outside. He was found dead five days later. Watch the full press conference here. Kenndy’s legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Bennie G. Thompson, Jamie Raskin, Grace Meng, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, Adriano Espaillat, Troy Carter, and James Walkinshaw. This bill is endorsed by the National Immigrant Justice Center and Global Refuge. “Nurul Amin Shah Alam and his family came to Buffalo seeking the American dream,” said Congressman Kennedy. “They fled war and persecution, seeking the ability to build a new life for themselves in a country that respected their right to worship, that provided economic opportunity, and that welcomed them not just as refugees, but as neighbors. Less than a year and a half later, he was dead. This death was preventable, and it points to the clear need to demand better of ICE and CBP. My legislation does just that.” “No family should be left wondering whether their loved one is safe after being released from DHS custody. The death of Mr. Shah Alam exposed a glaring failure that put a blind man in serious danger with tragic consequences that could have been avoided. I thank Congressman Kennedy for introducing this legislation to ensure transparency at DHS and help make sure a tragedy like this never happens again,” said Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson . “Nobody should vanish into government custody and then be cast out alone into danger without so much as a call to their family. This bill injects a basic measure of humanity and compassion to a system that failed Nurul Amin Shah Alam in the most devastating way. I’m proud to support Rep. Kennedy's legislation and admire his leadership,” said Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin . “DHS agents left a vulnerable man who did not speak English to die in the freezing cold and then lied to cover it up. We must hold DHS accountable for this heartbreaking tragedy. That is why I am co-sponsoring Rep. Kennedy’s DHS Release Transparency Act to bring much-needed reforms to ICE and CBP and ensure that every person has a trusted point of contact for release, regardless of the language they speak. Nurul Amin Shah Alam should still be alive today, and we will continue to demand justice in his name,” said Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) . Currently, neither ICE nor CBP provide notice to a point of contact or family member when a detainee is released. When a detainee is released from ICE custody, they are notified personally of the upcoming release and typically provided the opportunity to make a free phone call to facilitate release arrangements. These standards, dictated by the Performance Based National Detention Standards (issued in 2011 and revised in 2016), are not codified, vary across ICE facilities, and are not always adhered to. Shah Alam was held in CBP custody, which has no codified policy that requires notifying family or an attorney of a release. The DHS Release Transparency Act closes this gap, requiring DHS to make families aware of their loved one’s upcoming release in order to ensure their safety. Recognizing that Shah Alam had significant communication and translation challenges while in custody, the bill requires DHS to provide translation and interpretation services throughout the entire point-of-contact (POC) notification process. This includes ensuring the detainee is made aware of the POC notification option in a language that they can understand. It also requires DHS to notify the designated point of contact in a language they can also understand prior to