Human smugglers convicted after Indian family freezes to death trying to illegally cross northern border

Two human smugglers have been convicted in Minnesota this week after the tragic deaths of an Indian family, including two children, who perished in a blizzard in 2022 while trying to illegally cross into the U.S. from Canada. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, were found guilty on four counts, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally, by a jury in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

Patel, an Indian national, and Shand, a U.S. citizen from Florida, were involved in an international smuggling ring that helped Indians illegally cross the border. The family, consisting of Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their children Vihangi and Dharmik, froze to death while attempting the treacherous crossing to Minnesota in January 2022. They were not related to Harshkumar Patel.

The tragic incident shed light on the cruel reality of human smuggling and the greed of criminal organizations that prioritize profit over humanity. U.S. Attorney Andy Luger described the case as unimaginable greed leading to the horrific deaths of an entire family. The family’s fate was sealed in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border, highlighting the dangers faced by migrants seeking a better life.

Prosecutors revealed that Patel, also known as “Dirty Harry,” orchestrated the smuggling operation, with Shand serving as the driver. Testimony from another smuggler in the ring detailed how migrants, mostly Indians, were smuggled into the U.S. to work low-wage jobs and pay off debts to the smugglers, which could amount to $100,000 per individual.

The pair could potentially face up to 20 years in prison based on the prosecutors’ recommendations. During the trial, Shand’s defense team argued that he was unaware of the full extent of the scheme, while Patel’s attorneys claimed mistaken identity in the charges against him.

The surge in Indian migrants attempting to cross the Canadian border into the U.S. illegally has been alarming, with over 14,000 arrests recorded in the past year. This influx accounted for 60% of border arrests and has seen a tenfold increase in the last two years, indicating a growing trend in human smuggling operations.

The tragic fate of the Patel family serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences associated with illegal border crossings and the exploitation by human smugglers. As law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on such criminal activities, the hope is to prevent further tragedies and hold accountable those responsible for preying on vulnerable migrants seeking a better future.