State Lawmakers: To Ensure Accountability For Shah Alam's Death, We Must Pass New York For All
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 3RD, 2026
The 95 state legislators listed below issued the following statement in response to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s determination that Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s death was a homicide:
“Erie County resident Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s death was a devastating and preventable tragedy.
“When Governor Hochul said that it ‘was a failure of basic humanity’—she was right. When she said that anyone found responsible must be held accountable—she was right. But the failure is New York’s. And the accountability belongs to this Legislature and the Governor to once and for all change the circumstances that allowed this beloved father and neighbor to be killed.
“Border Patrol agents detained Mr. Shah Alam because the Erie County Sheriff called them. Because a New York public employee, using our resources, picked up the phone and shared information about a refugee who had been given safe haven in New York and had come to call Erie County home. There is no formal 287(g) agreement between Erie County and CBP/ICE, yet collusion happened anyway.
“We cannot call for accountability without dismantling the system that led to his death. Justice for Mr. Shah Alam’s family demands prohibiting the type of collusion between local police and the federal government that caused him to die. It would be an abdication of responsibility and a moral failure to do anything less.
“The New York for All Act is the only legislative proposal that would have prevented this tragedy from ever happening. We once again stand united in calling for immediate passage of New York for All and for it to be signed into law without further delay.
“The best way to honor Mr. Shah Alam’s life is to ensure other immigrant families do not meet the same fate.”
—
Senator Andrew Gounardes, New York For All prime sponsor
Assembly Member Karines Reyes, New York For All prime sponsor
Senator Michelle Hinchey
Senator Jessica Ramos
Senator Julia Salazar
Senator Nathalia Fernandez
Senator Robert Jackson
Senator John Liu
Senator Gustavo Rivera
Senator April Baskin
Senator Zellnor Myrie
Senator Rachel May
Senator Shelley Mayer
Senator Erik Bottcher
Senator Liz Krueger
Senator Jeremy Cooney
Senator Samra Brouk
Senator Jeremy Zellner
Senator Jose Serrano
Senator Patricia Fahy
Senator Pete Harckham
Senator Lea Webb
Senator Jamaal Bailey
Senator Kristen Gonzalez
Senator Jabari Brisport
Senator Kevin Parker
Senator Brian Kavanagh
Senator James Sanders
Senator Luis Sepúlveda
Senator Michael Gianaris
Senator Leroy Comrie
Senator Cordell Cleare
Assembly Member Michaelle Solages
Assembly Member Jordan Wright
Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson
Assembly Member Chantel Jackson
Assembly Member Larinda Hooks
Assembly Member Alex Bores
Assembly Member Amanda Septimo
Assembly Member Catalina Cruz
Assembly Member Al Taylor
Assembly Member Micah Lasher
Assembly Member Al Stirpe
Assembly Member Noah Burroughs
Assembly Member Jonathan Jacobson
Assembly Member Didi Barrett
Assembly Member Nikki Lucas
Assembly Member Latrice Walker
Assembly Member Demond Meeks
Assembly Member Grace Lee
Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal
Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
Assembly Member Anna Kelles
Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest
Assembly Member Claire Valdez
Assembly Member MaryJane Shimsky
Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon
Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi
Assembly Member Emily Gallagher
Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman
Assembly Member Gabrielle Romero
Assembly Member Harry Bronson
Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes
Assembly Member Robert Carroll
Assembly Member Steve Otis
Assembly Member Emérita Torres
Assembly Member Chris Burdick
Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha
Assembly Member Tony Simone
Assembly Member Jon Rivera
Assembly Member Keith Powers
Assembly Member Emily Gallagher
Assembly Member Jen Lunsford
Assembly Member Deborah Glick
Assembly Member Gabrielle Romero
Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar
Assembly Member Sarah Clark
Assembly Member Ron Kim
Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz
Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia
Assembly Member Dana Levenberg
Assembly Member George Alvarez
Assembly Member Steven Raga
Assembly Member Brian Cunningham
Assembly Member John Zaccaro Jr.
Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos
Assembly Member Landon Dais
Assembly Member Diana Moreno
Assembly Member Charles Lavine
Assembly Member Amy Paulin
Assembly Member Maritza Davila
Assembly Member Erik Dilan
Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman
Assembly Member Phil Ramos
Assembly Member Patrick Carroll
Press Contacts:
Billy Richling
Communications Director
State Senator Andrew Gounardes
billy@senatorgounardes.nyc
Jasmine Elrafei
Communications Coordinator
Assembly Member Karines Reyes, R.N.
elrafeij@nyassembly.gov
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