MINNEAPOLIS — In January 2022, a tragic incident unfolded as Jagdish Patel, his wife, and their two young children attempted to enter the U.S. through a desolate part of the Canadian border.
On that fateful night, wind chills plummeted to an astounding minus 36 Fahrenheit (minus 38 Celsius) while the Indian family embarked on a perilous journey on foot to meet a waiting vehicle.
Their trek through expansive agricultural fields and towering snowdrifts unfolded under a moonless night sky.
Meanwhile, a driver in northern Minnesota communicated with his employer, requesting that everyone be adequately dressed for the severe blizzard conditions.
According to federal prosecutors, orchestrating the venture from Canada was Harshkumar Patel, an alleged smuggler often referred to as “Dirty Harry.”
On the American side, Steve Shand, a driver newly enlisted by Patel, awaited in the snow, his role crucial to the smuggling operation, which reportedly aimed to accommodate the rising number of Indians living in the United States without legal status.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to their charges and are set to begin trial on Monday.
Over the course of five weeks, the duo purportedly discussed the harsh climate while facilitating the passage of five groups of Indian migrants across this quiet stretch of the border.
“It’s 16 degrees; cold as hell,” Shand remarked during a previous journey, questioning, “Are they going to be alive when they get here?”
During the ill-fated trip on January 19, 2022, Shand was assigned to collect 11 more Indian migrants, which included the Patel family; tragically, only seven of them survived.
On that chilly morning, Canadian authorities discovered the bodies of Jagdish Patel and his family, who succumbed to the elements.
In his frozen embrace was 3-year-old son Dharmik, swaddled in a blanket.
**A Dream of a New Life**
The family’s deadly quest ignited from Dingucha, a serene village in Gujarat, India, where ads encouraging emigration are plastered across narrow streets.
One poster boldly claims, “Make your dream of going abroad come true,” citing desirable destinations: “Canada. Australia. USA.”
This birthing ground of aspirations and peril was where Jagdish Patel, 39, and his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s, resided with his parents, raising their two children—11-year-old Vihangi and young Dharmik.
Both parents were reportedly teachers, and while the family was considered relatively well-off, their living situation—a well-maintained two-story home—did not plunge them into a state of desperation.
According to local journalist Vaibhav Jha, “It wasn’t a lavish life, but there was no urgent need, no desperation.”
Experts suggest that the surge of illegal immigration from India is fueled by a mix of political factors and an inefficient immigration system in the U.S. that can take years to navigate legally.
The underlying economic aspirations drive many; even modest employment opportunities in western countries evoke hopes for a better future.
This quest for prosperity has transformed Dingucha, where so many residents have migrated legally or otherwise that entire blocks of homes stand abandoned, while social media abounds with posts showcasing wealthier lives abroad.
This trend creates immense pressure within the village, as residents increasingly aspire to attain the “good life.”
Communities often sell farmland to fund smuggling fees, which can soar up to $90,000 per individual.
Minneapolis immigration attorney Satveer Chaudhary, who aids exploited migrants, has noted a robust underground network led by smugglers linked to the Gujarati business community, trafficking labor willing to engage in low-paying or unpaid jobs.
Data suggests that the illegal immigration route to the U.S. has intensified in recent years.
For the year concluding on September 30, U.S. Border Patrol apprehended over 14,000 Indians at the Canadian border, accounting for 60% of all arrests there.
Pew Research Center estimates approximately 725,000 Indians resided unlawfully in the U.S. by 2022, following Mexicans and El Salvadorans.
Local authorities in India, such as investigating officer Dilip Thakor, indicate that recent media coverage has led to the arrest of three individuals in the Patel case, though many more cases never reach the courts.
As the number of migrants attempting to reach the U.S. spikes, smugglers show little concern or caution regarding the hazards involved, misleading potential migrants about the ease of crossing the border.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Patel and Shand were integral to a large smuggling network responsible for scouting clients in India, acquiring Canadian student visas, and ferrying migrants across the border mainly via Minnesota and Washington state.
The trial for Patel, 29, and Shand, 50, slated to commence on Monday at the federal courthouse in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, involves four counts related to human smuggling.
In his defense, Patel’s attorney, Thomas Leinenweber, argues that his client sought to flee poverty and improve his life, now confronting unfounded accusations regarding crimes he never committed.
While Shand’s legal representation has remained silent, it has been reported that Patel allegedly compensated him approximately $25,000 across five trips.
Sadly, the last journey proved fatal.
**The Final Night**
By 3 a.m. on January 19, 2022, the gathering of 11 Indian migrants had spent boundless hours traversing the relentless snow and unbearable cold in a desperate attempt to find Shand.
Ill-equipped for the severe weather, many wore jeans and rubber work boots instead of suitable winter attire.
Meanwhile, Shand faced difficulties of his own, as prosecutors claim he drove his rented van into a ditch close to the border, further complicating his mission.
Eventually, two migrants stumbled upon the van searching for assistance.
Sometime later, a worker from a nearby pipeline company managed to pull the stranded vehicle out of the ditch.
Shortly thereafter, a Border Patrol agent approached Shand’s van, keeping a lookout for migrants after spotting boot prints near the border.
Despite the presence of more desperate individuals arriving at the van, Shand consistently denied that anyone else was outside, even as one man began to lose consciousness amid the bitter cold.
Having walked for over 11 hours, the group was in dire straits.
Though no children were in the group, one man carried a backpack filled with toys and children’s items after a family requested he hold onto it while they tend to their young son, whom they ultimately lost track of during the excruciating night.
Eventually, the bodies of the Patels were discovered just within Canadian territory, located in a field near the crossing point.
Jagdish was found holding his son Dharmik, with his daughter Vihangi nearby and Vaishaliben located at a slight distance.
Hemant Shah, an Indian businessman residing in Winnipeg about 70 miles north of the migrants’ location, organized a virtual prayer service for the Patel family.
Having experienced harsh winters himself, he expressed disbelief over the suffering the family endured.
“How could these people have even thought about going and crossing the border?” Shah lamented, attributing their demise to avarice.
He concluded, “There was no humanity” in such circumstances.