Trial Commences for Smugglers in Fatal Border Crossing Case

Two men are on trial in Minnesota, accused of smuggling an Indian family who froze to death while attempting to cross the US-Canada border in January 2022. The family, who traveled from India to Canada on visitor visas, were caught in a blizzard near the border. The accused, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Anthony Shand, face charges of human trafficking and culpable homicide. The case highlights a complex smuggling network involving illegal immigration agents in India and smugglers in North America. The trial underscores ongoing concerns about clandestine immigration routes.