A Refugee’s Lonely End: Questions Rise Over New York Drop‑off

In Buffalo, a 56‑year‑old man from Myanmar was left alone at a coffee shop after officials released him from jail. He had only partial vision and struggled to speak English, making the situation even more fragile.

• The man disappeared on February 19.
• Five days later, police found his body about four miles away from the shop where he was dropped.
• An autopsy ruled out foul play, citing a health issue as the cause of death.

Police are now looking into how and why he was left there. The city’s mayor described the decision as “deeply disturbing” and called it preventable, demanding answers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

CBP’s statement
The man entered the country as a refugee in December 2024 and was not subject to removal. They offered him a ride to the coffee shop, which they believed was warm and close to his known address. The officer on duty reported no signs of distress or disability that required extra help.

Earlier in the year, he was arrested after a misunderstanding while walking. He used a curtain rod as a cane and wandered onto private land. Officers stopped him, and he was charged with assaulting an officer, possession of a weapon, and trespassing. A plea deal later reduced the charges to a misdemeanor.

His family—part of the Rohingya community that fled violence in Myanmar—said they were never informed where he would be taken after release. The man’s son shared that his father wanted simple comforts like home‑cooked meals and to be with family.

The incident has sparked debate about how refugees are handled after release from detention, especially those who may need more support due to language barriers or disabilities. The investigation continues as officials try to understand the chain of events that led to this tragic outcome.