India-Canada: In January 2022, a tragic incident occurred when a family of four from India froze to death while attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border illegally. The Patels, originally from Gujarat, were smuggled by a network seeking to exploit migrants' dreams of a better life in the U.S. Two men involved in the smuggling operation, Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand, are awaiting trial on human smuggling charges.

On a freezing night, the Patels, along with other migrants, tried to cross the border under extreme weather conditions, with wind chills reaching -36F. The family’s journey ended tragically when they were found frozen to death near the Canadian border. Their bodies were discovered after a desperate search, with Jagdish Patel holding his son Dharmik, and the rest of the family scattered in the snow.

The Patel family's story highlights the growing problem of illegal migration from India, especially through smuggling networks that charge up to $90,000 per person. The U.S.-Canada border has seen a sharp rise in illegal Indian migrants, with over 14,000 arrests in one year alone.

Experts cite economic hardship as a primary factor driving illegal migration, with many hoping to escape poverty for better opportunities abroad. However, this has fueled the rise of dangerous smuggling operations. The Patel family's tragic fate serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in such illegal migration attempts.