Highlights:
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Indian citizen Shivam indicted by a federal grand jury in New York
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Accused of smuggling undocumented migrants from Canada into the US
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Alleged scheme operated between January and June 2025
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January border chase uncovered 12 undocumented individuals
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Faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all counts
A 22-year-old Indian national has been indicted in the United States for his alleged role in an organized migrant smuggling operation that prosecutors say moved undocumented Indian nationals from Canada into the US across the northern border. The charges were announced by federal authorities in New York and stem from a months-long investigation into cross-border smuggling activities linked to Canada.
The accused has been identified only as Shivam, as his last name is not known. A federal grand jury in the Northern District of New York returned an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to illegally bring non-citizens into the United States and four counts of illegally bringing individuals into the country for private financial gain. Prosecutors allege the operation relied heavily on crossings from Canada into upstate New York.
Alleged Smuggling Network Operating From Canada to the US
According to court documents, Shivam is accused of directing and coordinating the smuggling operation between January and June 2025. Federal prosecutors allege that during this period, he arranged for undocumented Indian nationals to be transported from Canada into Clinton County, New York. The scheme allegedly used multiple drivers, vehicles, and routes to avoid detection by US Border Patrol agents along the Canada–US border.
Authorities claim the operation was structured and deliberate, with careful coordination designed to move migrants from Canada through less monitored border areas. Investigators allege that Shivam oversaw these movements remotely, issuing instructions and managing logistics related to border crossings from Canada into the United States.
January Incident Near the Canada Border Led to Arrests
The investigation gained momentum following a January 2025 incident near the US–Canada border, when Border Patrol agents attempted to stop two vehicles traveling together in a remote area of northern New York. According to authorities, both vehicles allegedly failed to stop and instead accelerated, prompting a pursuit close to the Canada boundary.
Officials said one of the vehicles veered off the road and became immobilized, while the second vehicle continued before being stopped later in Mooers, New York, a town located near the Canada border. When agents searched the vehicles, they discovered a total of 12 undocumented individuals inside. Investigators later determined that the migrants had allegedly entered the United States from Canada as part of a coordinated effort.
Electronic Evidence Tied to Canada Smuggling Routes
Federal investigators later examined electronic communications connected to the case. According to the US Justice Department, WhatsApp messages exchanged between one of the drivers and a phone number allegedly associated with Shivam revealed extensive coordination related to smuggling activities from Canada.
The messages reportedly included directions, instructions for border crossings from Canada, proof-of-life photographs of migrants, and locations of safe houses in upstate New York. Prosecutors allege these communications show that the January incident near the Canada border was not isolated, but part of a broader and ongoing operation involving multiple illegal crossings from Canada into the US prior to that date.
Expanded Charges Following Initial Arrest
Shivam was initially arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2025 with one count of conspiracy to transport undocumented individuals. The newly returned indictment significantly expands the scope of the case, adding multiple counts related to smuggling individuals into the United States from Canada for financial gain.
Under US federal law, Shivam faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count. If convicted on all four counts related to illegally bringing individuals into the United States for private financial gain from Canada, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
Increased Enforcement Along the Canada–US Border
The case underscores heightened enforcement efforts along the Canada–US border, where federal authorities have reported a rise in smuggling attempts involving migrants seeking entry into the United States through northern routes. Law enforcement officials have noted that smuggling networks increasingly view Canada as an entry point for individuals attempting to cross into the US outside official ports of entry.
Federal officials emphasized that an indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Further court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks as prosecutors continue to pursue the case involving alleged migrant smuggling from Canada into the United States.
