Defense attorneys argue that their clients are not guilty of conspiracy, with Patel's lawyer claiming there is no clear evidence linking him to the smuggling plan.

Two men, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand, are currently on trial for human smuggling charges in Minnesota, following a tragic incident where a family from India froze to death while attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border.

The Patel family, originally from Dingucha, Gujarat, were schoolteachers seeking better opportunities in the U.S., illustrating the desperate lengths many migrants will go to for the promise of a better life.

Their fatal crossing occurred during severe weather conditions, with wind chills dropping below -35°C, underscoring the significant risks involved in such smuggling operations.

Prosecutors allege that both defendants were aware of the extreme weather yet proceeded with the smuggling operation, which involved dropping migrants at a remote location away from legal entry points.

Yash Patel, a witness who survived the ordeal, is one of the two individuals who successfully reached Shand after crossing the border and was subsequently arrested alongside him.

The case highlights the ongoing challenge of human smuggling in Canada, where even if smugglers are arrested, they may quickly return to their illegal activities due to weak legal repercussions.

Thesingarasan Rasiah, a convicted smuggler linked to multiple operations, exemplifies the minimal consequences faced by smugglers, having received only a 15-month jail sentence in September 2023.

Local immigration attorney Satveer Chaudhary noted the exploitation of migrants by smugglers, emphasizing the life-threatening risks they take in pursuit of the American dream.

During the trial, the jury, comprised of eight men and six women, will hear evidence including graphic photographs of the deceased family, which the judge allowed to demonstrate the severity of the situation and the defendants' negligence.

Despite objections from defense attorneys regarding the graphic nature of the photographs, the judge permitted them as evidence to illustrate the inadequate preparation for the cold conditions faced by the migrants.

On the day of the tragedy, authorities discovered the bodies of the Patel family just meters from the border, among a group of 11 attempting to cross undetected, with only two reaching Shand's van before law enforcement intervened.