MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The tragic deaths of a Gujarati family attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border have taken center stage as the trial for Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and his alleged accomplice, Steve Shand, 50, began in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Both men, accused of operating a human smuggling network, have pleaded not guilty.

An Indian family of four tragically froze to death while illegally crossing the United States-Canada border. The Patel family—Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their two young children—was among a group of 11 Indians attempting to enter the US.

Since the demise of Patels on January 19, 2022, at least two more families have died trying to illegally cross the US-Canada border.