Indian In CA Sentenced For Bringing Illegals Across US-Canada Border

Photo: US Customs and Border Protection

India-West News Desk

SEATTLE, WA — Sushil Kumar, a 35-year-old Indian national living in Santa Rosa, California, has been sentenced to six months in prison for his involvement in a human smuggling operation that facilitated illegal border crossings along the US-Canada border. Kumar was one of four individuals indicted for their roles in a scheme that targeted vulnerable individuals seeking entry into the United States.

Kumar, along with his co-conspirators, operated a smuggling network that brought undocumented individuals to Peace Arch Park in Canada before assisting them in crossing the U.S. border illegally. Afterward, the individuals were transported to various locations in Washington State and across the country. Court records show that Kumar participated in two significant smuggling incidents in late 2023, during which at least eight Indian nationals crossed the border illegally.

The first incident occurred on November 27, 2023, when five individuals were spotted by U.S. Border Patrol agents jumping a fence near the U.S.-Canada border in Blaine, Washington. The individuals were seen running toward a white minivan driven by 68-year-old Bobby Joe Green, who was later stopped by authorities.

The five individuals, all Indian nationals without the necessary documentation to enter the U.S., were arrested. Investigators discovered that Kumar had been in contact with some of the individuals via WhatsApp, providing them with instructions and his live location ahead of the illegal border crossing.

A second similar attempt took place in December 2023, resulting in more arrests. The individuals involved in these smuggling attempts had each paid between $5,000 and $10,000 to the operation for their illegal entry into the U.S.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin noted the significant financial exploitation involved, stating that the fees charged to the smuggled individuals were often equivalent to years of wages in their home countries. Prosecutors, who had initially recommended an eight-month prison term for Kumar, underscored the threat human smuggling poses to national security.

Three of the four defendants have already pleaded guilty to the charges. Kumar’s co-defendant Rajat Rajat, aged 26, is scheduled for sentencing on April 23, while Bobby Joe Green, the driver of the minivan, will face sentencing on March 13. Sneha, a 20-year-old Indian student in the U.S. on a visa, has pleaded not guilty and will go to trial on May 12. She is currently out on bond.

The investigation was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol.

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