Prosecutors alleged that Singh, a 40-year-old Indian resident of Ontario, was involved in a conspiracy to smuggle Indian nationals over the border from Cornwall Island and the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation in 2020 and 2021
Indian Simranjit “Shally” Singh accused of plotting and being paid to smuggle Indian nationals from Canada into the United States pleaded not guilty in a US federal court on April 5, reported Reuters.
Prosecutors alleged that Singh, a 40-year-old Indian resident of Ontario, was involved in a conspiracy to smuggle Indian nationals over the border from Cornwall Island and the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation in 2020 and 2021, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York said.
US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to a deal in March aimed at stopping asylum seekers coming to Canada through unofficial border crossings, a move critics said could mean refugees and migrants will take more risks when crossing
Singh was indicted in 2022 and was extradited to the US recently. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, the US Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Cornwall Island is located on the St Lawrence River. The Akwesasne reserve sits on the island, with US land just across the river. Local police monitor the river full-time to try to prevent the smuggling of people and goods.
US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to a deal in March aimed at stopping asylum seekers coming to Canada through unofficial border crossings, a move critics said could mean refugees and migrants will take more risks when crossing.
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