Last week, we were gripped by heartbreaking news out of Buffalo: Burmese Rohingya refugee Nurul Amin Shah Alam died days after being released by Border Patrol agents and left to navigate freezing streets alone.
Shah Alam, who was nearly blind, was released from custody without his family being informed and told to find his way home, five miles away. Six days later, he was dead.
The Buffalo-based outlet Investigative Post broke the story in a series of searing reports that have shaken the community and drawn international attention. In the wake of this tragedy, the people of Buffalo—and supporters around the world—have rallied behind Shah Alam’s family. Their fundraiser has now raised more than $100,000, a testament to the compassion and outrage this case has sparked.
But grief and generosity are not enough. Justice for Shah Alam must include systemic change—and that means protecting Burmese refugees here in the United States.
DHS moves to terminate protections for Burmese refugees
On November 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 4,000 Burmese refugees living in the United States.
In response, House members led by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) introduced H.R.7014, a bipartisan bill to restore TPS for Burmese nationals.
TPS exists for a reason. It protects people who cannot safely return to their home countries due to war, natural disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. Burma, also known as Myanmar, remains under the brutal control of a military junta that seized power in a 2021 coup. Since then, the military has waged a campaign of violence against civilians, ethnic minorities, democracy activists, and religious communities.
Yet DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that “the situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home.” She even characterized the junta’s planned elections as “free and fair,” despite widespread documentation of repression, mass displacement, and ongoing military assaults.
More than 150 organizations warned DHS that terminating TPS would endanger thousands of people. They made clear that conditions in Burma remain unsafe and that continued protection aligns with U.S. national security interests and core American values: democracy, human rights, and religious freedom.
Ending TPS would force people back into the arms of a regime responsible for torture, sexual violence, persecution of Christians and other minorities, and the targeting of democratically elected leaders and peaceful resistance activists. It would send a devastating message—not only to Burmese refugees here, but to authoritarian regimes watching how seriously the U.S. defends human rights.
Congress must act
We cannot undo what happened to Nurul Amin Shah Alam. But we can honor his memory by ensuring that other Burmese refugees are not pushed into greater danger.
If you care about human rights, now is the time to contact your members of Congress and demand action:
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Oppose the administration’s termination of TPS for Burmese refugees.
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Speak publicly about the real conditions in Burma.
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If you have a House member, urge them to co-sponsor H.R.7014.
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If you have a senator, urge them to introduce and support a Senate companion bill to restore TPS.
Phone calls matter. Emails matter. Meetings matter. Members of Congress consistently say that direct contact from constituents influences their priorities.
This moment requires more than outrage. It requires organized, sustained pressure.
The people of Buffalo showed what solidarity looks like when they rallied behind Shah Alam’s family. Now it’s up to all of us to turn solidarity into policy change.
Burma cannot wait. And neither can the thousands of refugees whose futures hang in the balance.
Please tell your senators and representative to restore TPS for Burmese refugees.
If you would like to help Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s family, you can donate here.
