Human traffickers sentenced after deaths of family at US-Canada border

Two human traffickers have been sentenced to 10 and 6.5 years in prison following the tragic deaths of an Indian family, including two children, who froze to death during a blizzard while attempting to illegally cross the northern border into the U.S. from Canada in 2022.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim called the crime “extraordinary” and “unimaginable” as it resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including two children. He emphasized that these deaths were avoidable, underscoring the severity of the situation.

The two traffickers, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand, were found guilty on multiple counts, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. Patel, an Indian national, received a nearly 11-year sentence, while Shand, a U.S. citizen from Florida, was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison with two years of supervised release.

The family, comprised of Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their children Vihangi and Dharmik, tragically lost their lives in January 2022 while attempting to cross into Minnesota with a group of migrants led by Patel and Shand. The family froze to death in the harsh conditions, while seven other migrants successfully made the crossing.

According to prosecutors, Patel organized the smuggling operation, while Shand served as the driver. Both men were part of an international smuggling ring that facilitated the illegal crossing of Indian nationals into the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that the recorded wind chill temperature on the morning of the incident was a bone-chilling -36 degrees. Prosecutors described the harrowing circumstances in which the family perished, with the father trying to shield his son from the freezing wind and the mother slumping against a chain-link fence in search of salvation.

Following the sentencing, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jamie Holt remarked on the accountability of the traffickers, emphasizing the grim realities of human smuggling. Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick condemned the traffickers for their lack of humanity, highlighting the tragic fate that befell the innocent family.

The case sheds light on the dangers and consequences of illegal immigration and human trafficking, underscoring the need for stringent enforcement measures to combat these criminal activities. The U.S./Canada border has seen a surge in illegal immigration in recent years, prompting increased security measures to safeguard against such tragedies.

As the justice system holds these traffickers accountable for their heinous crimes, the memory of the Indian family who lost their lives in the blizzard serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of such illicit activities. The sentencing of Patel and Shand represents a crucial step towards justice for the victims and their loved ones, as law enforcement continues to combat human smuggling and protect vulnerable migrants from exploitation and harm.