CW: Abuse, Neglect & Death
The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam is heartbreaking, not just because of what he went through, but because his story sadly feels all too familiar to anyone who knows how disabled people are treated in the custody of U.S. immigration officials. Alam was blind, confused, and vulnerable, yet Customs and Border Protection officials released him at a closed Tim Hortons in cold weather, miles away from his home, with no help.
His death was ruled a homicide because others’ actions played a direct role. But this isn’t a one-time failure. It reflects a long, well-known pattern where disabled immigrants are regularly put in danger by the very agencies responsible for keeping them safe.
Disability advocates have long warned that CBP and ICE are not set up to handle the needs of disabled people. Federal reviews show CBP doesn’t have a consistent way to identify disabilities, often relying on guesswork instead of proper screenings. Civil rights groups have found over a hundred cases where disabled immigrants were denied needed accommodations, medical care, or safe conditions upon release. Researchers say these numbers only show part of the problem since many cases go unreported once people are deported or transferred. Behind the statistics are stories much like Alam’s—painful and familiar.
A recent report by The Seattle Times highlights just how widespread this problem is. They told the story of a 21-year old man in Washington with physical and developmental disabilities who stayed in ICE detention even though it was clear he didn’t understand the legal process or how to ask for help. He wasn’t given necessary accommodations, was put in conditions that made his health worse, and didn’t get the support he needed to stay safe in detention. His family and lawyers raised concerns many times, but the system acted like his disability was just a nuisance instead of something crucial to care for.
This pattern doesn’t just affect adults. A disabled teenager in Arleta California, was wrongly detained by federal agents during a raid. His family said he was terrified, confused, and couldn’t process what was happening. They talked about how he struggled to communicate and felt unsafe even after he was let go.
The agents admitted their mistake, but the damage had been done. This case shows how quickly disabled people—especially kids—can get caught up in enforcement actions that don’t think about their needs, understanding, or vulnerability.
These cases weren’t treated as emergencies; they were treated as normal. Alam’s case stands out because it was so clear where help was needed. His blindness was clear. His vulnerability was obvious. His need for help was undeniable. Yet at every step—arrest, detention, transfer, and release—he was treated as if his disability didn’t matter.
The system works on the idea that detainees are not disabled speak English, and can manage on their own. When someone doesn’t fit that mold, the system doesn’t adjust. That person is just left behind.
What makes this worse is that disability is common among immigrants. Studies suggest that at least one in five asylum seekers has some kind of disability, whether physical, sensory, mental health, or chronic illness. Many have survived war, torture, or displacement, and many have untreated health issues. Still, CBP and ICE act like disability is rare or unimportant. The result isn’t just neglect—it’s a system that actively puts disabled people at risk.
Alam’s death forces us to face a hard truth: neglect isn’t passive. It’s a form of violence. Leaving a blind man out in freezing cold isn’t an accident; it’s a predictable outcome of a system that doesn’t value disabled lives. Unless that system changes, more people will suffer like this.
To truly honor Alam, we have to reject the idea that what happened was unavoidable. We need to see that disability justice and immigration enforcement, as they are now, clash with each other. Federal agencies must acknowledge disabled people as human beings, not just problems to manage. Neglect is never harmless. It’s a choice. And the cost of that choice is paid with lives like Alam’s—lives that deserved safety, dignity, and care.
Sources:
Works Cited (MLA 9):
“1 in 5 Syrian Refugees Has a Disability, New Survey Reveals.” Humanity & Inclusion US, Humanity & Inclusion, https://www.hi-us.org/en/news/1-in-5-syrian-refugees-has-a-disability-new-survey-reveals.
Deported to Danger: United States Deportation Policies Expose Salvadorans to Death and Abuse. Human Rights Watch, 5 Feb. 2020, https://www.hrw.org/report/2020/02/05/deported-danger/united-states-deportation-policies-expose-salvadorans-death-and.
Gaitán, Catalina. “Man with Physical, Developmental Disabilities in WA ICE Detention.” The Seattle Times, 29 Aug. 2025, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/man-with-physical-developmental-disabilities-in-wa-ice-detention/.
Southwest Border: CBP Should Improve Oversight of Medical Care for Individuals in Custody. U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2026, https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-26-107425.pdf.
Tofani, Marco, et al. ‘Disability and Migration Routes: An Explorative Analysis Among Refugees Hosted in Italy’. International Journal of Public Health, vol. 69–2024, 2025, http://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2024.1607821.
Watkins, Emyle. “‘Neglect Is Never Benign:’ Disability Community Responds to Alam Homicide Ruling.” Buffalo Toronto Public Media, 1 Apr. 2026, https://www.btpm.org/local/2026-04-01/neglect-is-never-benign-disability-community-responds-to-alam-homicide-ruling.
Lopez, Lolita, and Helen Jeong. “‘He Doesn’t Feel Safe.’ Family Speaks Out After Arleta Boy with Disability Was Mistakenly Detained by Federal Agents.” NBC Los Angeles, 14 Aug. 2025, www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/he-doesnt-feel-safe-family-speaks-out-after-arleta-boy-with-disability-was-mistakenly-detained-by-federal-agents/3763920/.