NRI BC couple sentenced in Seattle for people smuggling from Canada to US

Seattle, May16, 2009
Surinder Singh

NRI couple from Surrey, B.C, Canada, were sentenced in U.S. District Court, Seattle for smuggling people into the U.S. from Canada via the Peace Arch Park.

On Feb. 10, Jas and Jagdeep pleaded guilty.

NRI Jas Binning, 48, was sentenced to six months in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine.

NRI Jagdeep Binning, 32, was sentenced 50 days in prison, two years of supervised release and is jointly responsible for the $5,000 fine. After her arrest, Jagdeep had already spent 50 days at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac and she returned home for the birth of her daughter.

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman said:

• Smuggling humans for profit is very disrespectful to your country, also mine and to all those people who come in and legitimately make their way as immigrants.
• To profit from human smuggling is even more hideous, because you prey on those who are desperate to see their families.

According to the court records:

• On Aug. 30, 2008, Jas Binning charged a undercove agent (officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) $4,500 to be smuggled in US.

• On Dec.13, 2008, Jas charged another undercove agent $5,000. Jagdeep was pregnant at the time and took the undercove agent into the park and told him that the smuggling was easy in the summer when the park was crowded.

The Govt. is in the process of seizing their home because they conspired to smuggle people into the U.S. by using their house that borders Peace Arch Park.