The trial, taking place in Fergus Falls, puts a spotlight on the dangers of human smuggling.
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — A jury has been selected in a high-profile federal trial this week accusing two men of running a human smuggling operation at the U.S.-Canada border, where Manitoba, North Dakota and Minnesota meet.
The trial, taking place in Fergus Falls, Minn., is expected to last the rest of this week, according to CBC News. The case has gained international attention because the smuggling operation involved the death of the Patel family, who froze in 2022 while making the dangerous journey across vast, open farmland in sub-zero temperatures.
Prosecutors allege that Steve Shand and Harshkumar “Harry” Patel — who is not related to the family that died — worked to facilitate border crossings for a large group of Indian nationals that winter. According to court documents, Shand told investigators that “Patel recruited him to transport illegal aliens from the U.S./Canadian border …