A tragic story of human smuggling is unfolding at the U.S.-Canada border. Families seeking a better life are dying, lured by the false promise of “open borders.” This week, a trial in Minnesota shines a light on a smuggling network that turned desperation into profit — with fatal results.
In January 2022, a family of four from India froze to death trying to cross into the United States. Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their two children, aged 11 and 3, were found in a snow-covered field in Manitoba. Wind chills were a deadly minus 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Jagdish held his youngest, wrapped in a blanket, as the blizzard sealed their fate.
“This is heartbreaking,” said U.S. Border Patrol Chief Anthony S. Good. “Smugglers don’t care about human life. They only care about the money they make.”
Federal prosecutors say the operation was run by Harshkumar “Dirty Harry” Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, a Florida resident. Patel allegedly recruited Shand and used his U.S. connections to smuggle people from India, through Canada, into the U.S. Shand was caught in Minnesota waiting in a truck for a group of 11 migrants, including the Patels, on the night they died.
A Tragic Network
Prosecutors claim Patel ran the scheme from Florida, targeting Indian families eager for a new start. Many were issued Canadian student visas, transported to the border, and guided into the U.S. for hefty fees. Survivors say they paid up to $87,000 to the smugglers.
Patel and Shand often discussed the risks, according to court documents. In one message, Shand reportedly asked, “They going to be alive when they get here?” Despite the dangers, they pressed on. Patel is accused of paying Shand $25,000 for five smuggling trips in brutal winter conditions.
Shand’s lawyer has not commented, while Patel’s attorney insists his client is innocent, saying, “He came to America to escape poverty. He has faith in the justice system.”
Smuggling Surge
The U.S.-Canada border has seen a spike in illegal crossings, particularly involving Indian nationals. Over 14,000 were arrested in the past year alone. Many come from Gujarat, like the Patels, where smugglers sell dreams of American prosperity.
“They’re promised the American dream, but it’s a nightmare,” said immigration attorney Satveer Chaudhary. “People risk everything — their dignity, their lives — for a false hope.”
The family from Dingucha lived modestly. Both parents were schoolteachers, respected in their village. Yet they trusted smugglers to guide them to a better future. Instead, they paid with their lives.
A Broken Promise
This case highlights the deadly consequences of human smuggling. Migrants are often misled about the dangers of crossing borders and the realities of life in the U.S.
“This isn’t about immigration,” said one observer. “It’s about greed exploiting desperation.”
The trial of Patel and Shand may bring justice for the victims, but the deeper issue remains: a system where vulnerable people are exploited by ruthless operators.
As temperatures drop, the message is clear. The American dream isn’t worth dying for — and the cost is far greater than money.