A 22-year-old Indian citizen has been indicted in the United States for his alleged involvement in a scheme to smuggle Indian nationals from Canada into the country across the northern border. Court documents allege that Shivam directed smuggling activities between January and June 2025, coordinating the unlawful movement of individuals across the US-Canada border into Clinton County, New York. In January 2025, US Border Patrol agents attempted to stop two vehicles traveling together near the border. A conviction on all four counts of illegally bringing people into the United States carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 15 years. Shivam was initially charged by criminal complaint in June last year with one count of conspiracy to transport individuals illegally.

Source: The Telegraph January 30, 2026 12:11 UTC