Indian Family Freezes to Death on Canada-US Border Amid Rising Perilous Crossings

Frozen Dreams: Indian Family’s Tragic End Highlights Perils of Border Crossings

On a frigid January night in 2022, Jagdish Patel, his wife, Vaishaliben, and their two young children attempted to cross into the United States from Canada through a remote, desolate stretch of borderland. Temperatures plummeted to minus 36°F (minus 38°C) as the family trudged through snow-covered fields under an almost moonless sky, aiming to reach a van waiting across the U.S. border.

Prosecutors say the journey was orchestrated by Harshkumar Patel, an alleged smuggler operating in Canada, and Steve Shand, a driver recruited from Florida. Both men, set to stand trial in Minnesota, are accused of running a sophisticated human smuggling network catering to Indian migrants. Shand had warned of the harsh weather conditions in text messages, but the Patel family and others were ill-prepared for the deadly cold.

By morning, Canadian authorities found the Patel family’s frozen bodies near the border. Jagdish cradled his 3-year-old son, Dharmik, in his arms, wrapped in a blanket. Nearby lay his 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi, and his wife, who had succumbed to the bitter cold just a short distance away.

A Village’s Lost Hopes

The family hailed from Dingucha, a small village in Gujarat, India, where emigration is both a dream and a pressure. Ads plastered across the village promise pathways to prosperous lives abroad. The Patels, modestly well-off teachers, had no urgent financial need but aspired to provide a brighter future for their children.

In many villages like Dingucha, families sell farmland or take on massive debts to pay smugglers who promise passage to the West. Fees often reach $90,000 per person. For those who succeed, the lure of Western lifestyles fuels a cycle, leaving entire blocks of homes in villages like Dingucha vacant.

“There’s immense social pressure to leave,” said Vaibhav Jha, a local journalist. “It’s not about desperation but aspiration.”

Smuggling Networks and Rising Numbers

The U.S.-Canada border has become a growing route for Indian migrants, facilitated by extensive smuggling operations. These networks exploit migrants, often providing inadequate resources for dangerous crossings. U.S. Border Patrol reported over 14,000 arrests of Indian migrants along the northern border in 2022 — a tenfold increase from two years prior.

Prosecutors allege Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand played integral roles in smuggling operations that included securing Canadian student visas and arranging transportation. Over five weeks, they reportedly facilitated crossings for at least five groups of Indian migrants. Patel allegedly paid Shand $25,000 for his role.

The final journey was doomed by freezing temperatures and inadequate winter gear. Shand’s van became stuck in a ditch, and the migrants, including the Patels, were left wandering for over 11 hours in subzero conditions. By the time some reached Shand’s van, frostbite and hypothermia had already taken hold.

A Growing Crisis

The tragic deaths of the Patel family are not isolated. Smuggling networks, fueled by demand from migrants seeking better lives, often downplay the dangers of such perilous journeys. In the Patels’ case, their loss became a stark reminder of the risks and exploitation tied to illegal immigration.

“Their suffering is unimaginable,” said Hemant Shah, an Indian-born businessman in Winnipeg who organized a prayer service for the family. “Greed and inhumanity cost them their lives.”

As trials for Patel and Shand begin, their case underscores the urgency of addressing both the human cost of smuggling and the systemic issues driving illegal immigration from India and beyond.