Trial Opens for Men Accused of Human Smuggling

In Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the trial of Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel, accused of human smuggling, is underway, with testimonies expected from survivors of a deadly crossing attempt. The prosecution alleges that the two men orchestrated several illegal border crossings from Canada into Minnesota, prioritizing profit over human safety, which resulted in the tragic deaths of a family of four in January 2022 due to extreme weather conditions. Rajinder Singh, a convicted smuggler, testified that he transported over 500 Indian migrants across the U.S.-Canada border and claimed that smugglers typically charged around $100,000 per person. The trial is set to continue until Friday, with more witnesses, including a survivor of the fatal trek, slated to provide evidence. The case highlights the dangerous human trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable migrants seeking entry into the U.S.