The blue expanse off the coast of San Diego turned into yet another scene of heartbreak on May 5 when a fishing boat overloaded with hopeful migrants capsized in rough waters. Among the victims was a Patel family from Ahmedabad: Brijesh Patel, wife Jagruti, and their children Prince (14) and Mahi (10). The children drowned, Brijesh slipped into coma while Jagruti remains hospitalised.The Patel family's story began like of many others in Gujarat: a modestly successful business, aspirations of a better future, and a growing sense of desperation after financial setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last October, Brijesh informed relatives he was visiting London with his family. No one knew it was an attempt at illegal entry into the United States via Mexico, a route fraught with peril and controlled by ruthless human traffickers.These tragic deaths reveal that despite the Donald Trump administration's hard crackdown on illegal immigrants already in the US, the multi-country human trafficking network continues to thrive, finding families ready to pay a fortune for a shot at life in the US—the deportations and long wait for asylum notwithstanding.advertisementThe Patel family reportedly paid Rs 2.6 crore—Rs 65 lakh per person—to traffickers in Kalol, Gujarat, for the dangerous crossing. On that fateful day, as their boat neared the California shore, it overturned in the surf. Emergency responders recovered three bodies, including of Prince. Mahi's body was never found and she is presumed drowned. Brijesh and Jagruti were pulled out of the waters in critical condition.The tragedy is the latest in a grim series of deaths involving Indian families, particularly from Gujarat and Punjab, risking lives to realise the 'American dream'. In January 2022, four members of another Patel family, from Mehsana in Gujarat, froze to death in a blizzard at the Manitoba border while trying to cross from Canada into the US.Jagdish Patel, wife Vaishali, 11-year-old daughter Vihangi and three-year-old son Dharmik were from Dingucha village. Their bodies were found frozen in a field near Emerson, Manitoba, just 12 metres from the US border. Their story made international headlines and led to convictions for two human traffickers in Canada.advertisementSince January 2022, at least 11 Indians have died attempting to enter the US illegally, with nine Gujaratis vanishing last year on the Caribbean route. The pattern is clear: families, often from rural or semi-urban backgrounds, are drawn into the web of traffickers by promises of a better life, only to face unimaginable dangers en route.A study published by the Johns Hopkins University crunched official data to reveal that the number of Indians apprehended while illegally crossing over to the US had skyrocketed by 40 times in just four years—from around 1,000 in FY2020 to a peak of 43,000 in FY2023, and 40,000 in FY2024.The 2023 peak significantly exceeded the previous high recorded in 2018 when 9,000 Indian nationals were apprehended crossing the US border. Prior to 2010, the total number of Indian border encounters never exceeded 1,000 in a year.Investigations following such tragedies have revealed well-organised smuggling networks operating out of Gujarat and Punjab. These networks charge exorbitant sums, arrange fake documents and coordinate perilous journeys through multiple countries. In the San Diego case, five Mexican nationals were arrested and charged with 'bringing in aliens resulting in death' and 'for financial gain'.Indian authorities have stepped up crackdowns in recent years. Dozens of traffickers have been arrested in Gujarat, Punjab and other states, but convictions are rare. The complexity of international smuggling operations and the reluctance of survivors to testify make prosecutions difficult. However, the increasing international cooperation and high-profile cases have put more pressure on Indian law enforcement to act decisively.advertisementThe Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration has made the US border even more perilous for migrants. Policies include increased border patrols, stricter visa scrutiny and faster deportations for those caught living illegally. Between February and March 2025, 636 Indian nationals illegally living in the US have been deported to India.Of these, three US planeloads carrying 341 individuals arrived between February 5 and 16. Union minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Lok Sabha in March that the rest arrived on commercial aircrafts—55 via Panama and 240 on separate flights.The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities have informed India that 295 Indians have been detained and their final orders of removal from the US are awaited, while it is learnt that another 18,000 individuals have been identified by ICE for deportation.These measures have not deterred desperate families but instead pushed them towards riskier, and more expensive, routes controlled by criminal syndicates.advertisementExperts and recent studies warn that such hardline policies as in the US now often backfire, driving up the cost of human trafficking and increasing the likelihood of tragedy. Human traffickers adapt quickly, finding new routes and methods while migrants, undeterred by the dangers, become more vulnerable to exploitation and violence.Meanwhile, the impact on families is devastating. Survivors face trauma, legal limbo and financial ruin. Communities in Gujarat and Punjab are left grieving, often in debt from the sums paid to traffickers.'The drowning deaths of these children is a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business,' said US Attorney Adam Gordon after the San Diego tragedy. 'We are committed to seeking justice for these vulnerable victims, and to holding accountable any traffickers responsible for their deaths.'Despite repeated warnings, the cycle of hope and heartbreak continues. Until economic opportunities improve at home and international cooperation dismantles trafficking networks, desperate families will continue to risk everything for a chance at a better life. Far too many have already paid the ultimate price.Subscribe to India Today Magazineadvertisement
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