Sushil Kumar, a 35-year-old Indian citizen residing in Santa Rosa, California, has received a six-month prison sentence for his participation in a human smuggling operation that enabled unlawful border crossings at the US-Canada border. Kumar was one of four individuals charged in connection with a scheme that exploited vulnerable persons seeking entry into the United States. Together with his accomplices, Kumar managed a smuggling network that transported undocumented individuals to Peace Arch Park in Canada, subsequently aiding them in their illegal entry into the United States. Following their crossing, these individuals were moved to various destinations within Washington State and beyond. Court documents indicate that Kumar was involved in two major smuggling events in late 2023, during which at least eight Indian nationals unlawfully crossed the border. The first of these incidents took place on November 27, 2023, when U.S. Border Patrol agents observed five individuals climbing over a fence near the U.S.-Canada border in Blaine, Washington. These individuals were seen fleeing towards a white minivan operated by 68-year-old Bobby Joe Green, who was later apprehended by law enforcement. The five individuals, all Indian nationals lacking the required documentation for entry into the U.S., were arrested, and investigators found that Kumar had communicated with some of them via WhatsApp, offering guidance and sharing his live location prior to the illegal crossing.A subsequent attempt of a similar nature occurred in December 2023, leading to additional arrests. The individuals implicated in these smuggling operations had each paid between $5,000 and $10,000 for their unlawful entry into the United States.
During the sentencing phase, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin emphasized the considerable financial exploitation at play, remarking that the fees imposed on the smuggled individuals often represented several years’ worth of earnings in their countries of origin. Prosecutors, who had initially suggested an eight-month prison sentence for Kumar, highlighted the dangers that human smuggling presents to national security. Of the four defendants, three have already entered guilty pleas regarding the charges. Kumar’s co-defendant, Rajat Rajat, aged 26, is set to be sentenced on April 23, while Bobby Joe Green, the minivan driver, is scheduled for sentencing on March 13. Sneha, a 20-year-old Indian student in the United States on a visa, has pleaded not guilty and is slated for trial on May 12, currently released on bond. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol.
