US-Canada Border Family Froze to Death After Smugglers Were Convicted
Attempts to cross the Canada-US border led to the death of an Indian family after two men were convicted of human smuggling.
In Fergus Falls, Minnesota, a jury on Friday convicted Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, who used the alias “Dirty Harry“, and Steve Shand, 50, an American. Prosecutors say the pair assisted migrants crossing from Canada into the U.S.
Vaishaliben Patel, 37, her husband Jagdish Patel, 39, their 11-year-old daughter Vihangi, and their three-year-old son Dharmik were left to fend for themselves during a blizzard in January 2022.
India’s ‘mind-blowing tragedy’ raises questions about visa sales.
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A snowplow driver, who assisted Shand in freeing his van from a ditch, first tipped border officials that something was amiss on a day when temperatures dipped to -23C. Multiple times in recent days, Shand was seen in the area.
North Dakota officers stopped Shand as he attempted to cross the border. Agents were confused by his story that he was heading for Winnipeg, given that he was on a rural country road far from the capital city’s route.
Shand was accompanied by two Indian nationals. More people were found wandering, freezing in a field.
A border patrol agent described one woman’s hand as “like a frozen chicken breast” and stated she had been slipping in and out of consciousness from hypothermia.
It became apparent that more could be trapped. Whether anyone else was there. He told Shand, “People will die if you don’t tell the truth.” Neither of them responded.
Upon looking inside one of the migrants’ backpacks, Daniel Huguley’s heart sank. The diaper was the first thing I saw.” Everyone intercepted was an adult.
Vihangi and Dharmik Patel were found dead just meters from the border, along with Jagdish and Vaishaliben Patel. He was still holding Dharmik.
After leaving India on 10 January for a better life, the four landed in Toronto two days later. Despite the cold, Patel called his father and cousin to let them know they were fine.
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Several days later, they arrived in Emerson, Manitoba, with new coats and gloves. Winter travel in the depths of winter is treacherous, and they probably thought they were prepared.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described it as a “mind-blowing tragedy” soon after their bodies were discovered.
Migrant Yash Patel testified in court that they were instructed by smugglers to leave the van and walk straight until they found a van on the US side.
In the blinding snow and dim light, Patel, who is not related to the family that died, separated from the group after a few minutes. Shand’s snow-covered van wasn’t found until nearly six hours later.
Lawyers pitted Shand against Patel’s team, claiming he was unwittingly entangled in the scheme. Canadian Press reports that Patel’s lawyers argued that he had been misidentified.
According to them, Dirty Harry is a different person from Patel. Shand does not appear to be linked to the crime according to bank records and witness testimony.
According to prosecutors, Patel coordinated the operation and Shand drove. Attorneys for Shand say he was supposed to pick up 11 Indian immigrants. It took only seven to cross by foot. Cold killed two parents and their young children later that morning in Canada.