Fenil Patel, 37, has been arrested in connection with a human smuggling operation that led to the tragic deaths of a migrant family at the Canada-U.S. border. The family froze to death near Emerson, Manitoba, in January 2022 while attempting to cross the border during a severe blizzard. Patel was taken into custody on September 5, following an extradition request from the United States. He is scheduled to appear in Ontario Superior Court this week.

The deceased family members included Jagdish Patel, 39; his wife Vaishaliben Patel, 37; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and their three-year-old son, Dharmik. They were among several migrants from India who had been dropped off near the border and were instructed to walk until they could be picked up by a vehicle in the U.S. Unfortunately, they were inadequately dressed for the harsh winter conditions, having only light jackets and jeans meant for spring.

Two men in the U.S., Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand, were convicted last year for their roles in the smuggling operation. Their trial revealed that they were part of a network that brought individuals from India to Canada on student visas, then transported them to the border with instructions to cross on foot. Harshkumar Patel was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Shand received a 6.5-year sentence. Both men have appealed their convictions.

During the trial, witnesses described Fenil Patel as an organizer of the smuggling operation in Canada. A special agent with Homeland Security testified that Patel rented a vehicle in Toronto on January 17, 2022, and drove it to Winnipeg, where he dropped it off the same day the family was taken to the border. Another witness, Rajinder Singh, a convicted smuggler, stated that the family contacted Fenil Patel while struggling in the cold. Singh claimed Patel told them to turn back and that someone would pick them up, but this was false, as no one was waiting for them.

The bodies of the family were discovered hours later, just north of the border. The young boy was found in his father's arms, while the mother was located against a chain-link fence near an unmanned natural gas facility. Prosecutors indicated that she likely left the group in search of help. One other migrant who crossed the border required hospitalization for hypothermia.

As of the trial, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had not made any arrests in Canada related to this case, and their investigation was ongoing. An affidavit from a Toronto police constable noted that apprehending Fenil Patel was crucial to prevent him from fleeing to India, where extradition would be difficult. Court documents reveal that Patel faces charges in the U.S., including conspiracy to bring aliens into the country resulting in death.