Arrests in India for deaths of a migrant family found frozen on Canada’s border

Two black market immigration agents in India have been arrested for allegedly arranging the fateful journey to Canada of a family of four who froze to death trying to walk across the border into the United States, and two more agents are named as suspects in North America, one on each side of the border, according to Indian media.

Authorities in India said the family that died was reluctant to cross at night during a blizzard but were urged it was the perfect time to move undetected.

“The agents told them that stormy, cold weather conditions were ideal cover to cross into the U.S. undetected. They said it was their best opportunity and last chance to cross into the U.S. or else return to India or stay back in Canada,” a police official is quoted saying.

Officials revealed the last instructions given the migrants before their perilous journey: “You have to walk in -35 degrees Celsius to evade arrest by Canadian or U.S. security agencies. Follow the lights of an American gas station because you will find no navigation available in the dark and extreme weather.”