Bishop Calls for Full Investigation into the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam
The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam is a profound failure of our civic systems entrusted with the care of the vulnerable. As a church, we believe that all human beings bear the image of God, a dignity that is inherent and does not depend on one’s nationality, language, or physical ability. When we fail to protect our neighbors, especially those who are marginalized or oppressed, we fail in our fundamental duty to foster the well-being of all creation.
I join with community leaders and human rights advocates in calling for a full and transparent investigation into the tragic death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 64- year-old Rohingya refugee who died after being abandoned by U.S. Border Patrol. Shah Alam, who was nearly blind and spoke no English, was reportedly left at a gas station in freezing conditions after being processed by federal authorities.
The ELCA’s social teaching emphasizes that all activity—including that of the government and law enforcement—is accountable to God’s purpose of shalom, or the well-being of all people. The synod maintains that:
Dignity is Universal: Every person in the justice and immigration systems deserves to be treated with compassion and as a member of the human community.
Systems are Accountable: Civil authorities have a "protective duty" that extends specifically to the elderly and disabled who are vulnerable to abuse or neglect. Political authority must be assessed by whether it amplifies God's purpose for the well-being of the neighbor.
The Church Must Speak: The ELCA is compelled by a "holy yearning" for justice to hear the cries of those suffering within the system and to advocate for dramatic reforms in policies that ignore human suffering.
I urge that there be a comprehensive inquiry into the protocols and decisions that led to Mr. Shah Alam being left alone and without resources in a life-threatening environment.
We cannot remain silent when the 'least of these' among us is discarded by the state. A society is judged by how it treats the stranger in its midst. We pray for the family of Nurul Amin Shah Alam and commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice that honors the sacred value of every human life.
