This combination image shows left to right; undated photo released by the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office shows Harshkumar Patel in Elk River, Minn., and an unndated photo released by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows Steve Shand. (AP Photo/ICE)
This follows the 2022 deaths of Jagdish Patel, his wife, Vaishaliben, who were both in their 30s, and their children: daughter Vihangi, 11, and son Dharmik, 3, all of whom froze to death in January 2022 while attempting to illegally cross into Minnesota via an operation coordinated by Patel and Shand. The family members were not related to Patel.
The family was among 11 migrants in the same group who made the treacherous crossing to Minnesota that January. After only seven made it across, the family was found dead the next day by Canadian authorities. The seven others, determined to be Indian nationals, were stopped by U.S. Border Patrol in North Dakota near Minnesota.
Prosecutors said Patel, who was also known as "Dirty Harry," organized the scheme, and Shand was the driver. Both men were involved in an international smuggling ring that helped Indians illegally cross the border.
A Wednesday statement by the U.S. Department of Justice said that the recorded wind chill temperature on the morning of the incident was -36 degrees.
AP reported U.S. prosecutor Michael McBride wrote the father died while trying to shield Dharmik’s face from a "blistering wind" with a frozen glove. Vihangi was wearing "ill-fitting boots and gloves," and the mother "died slumped against a chain-link fence she must have thought salvation lay behind."
The U.S./Canada border has seen a surge in illegal immigration in last several years, prompting tightened security measures at America's less-trafficked border. (CBP)
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick for the District of Minnesota added, "As we’ve seen time and time again, human traffickers care nothing for humanity."
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"Every time I think about this case, I think about this family — including two beautiful little children — who the defendants left to freeze to death in a blizzard," said Kirkpatrick. "I am proud of the work of our law enforcement partners in holding these defendants accountable for their unspeakable crimes."
Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/human-traffickers-sentenced-after-family-froze-death-along-us-canada-border