Why some Indians are risking everything on illegal border crossings to live in the West

JAGDISH AND VAISHALIBEN PATEL left their home in Dingucha, Gujarat, for Canada, without telling a soul. They arrived in Toronto on Jan. 12, 2022. Tragically, about a week later, their bodies were found 13 yards from the U.S. border. They had frozen to death trying to cross into the U.S. on foot with their young children Vihangi, 11, and Dharmik, 3.

The Patels likely traveled by road to the U.S. border before attempting the illegal border crossing by foot. The Canadian authorities describe them as victims of human trafficking.