A woman linked to a 2023 deadly human smuggling attempt across the St. Lawrence River appeared in U.S. court after being extradited from Canada.

A woman linked to a deadly 2023 human smuggling attempt across the St. Lawrence River appeared in U.S. court after being extradited from Canada. Stephanie Square, 52, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen from the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, faces federal charges including conspiracy to smuggle aliens and smuggling resulting in death. She allegedly led a network that attempted to transport a Romanian family of four and another family across the river during dangerous weather, leading to the drowning of all four family members and a boat captain. The operation involved co-conspirators who transported the victims and operated the vessel, which capsized. Emergency calls were made during the night of March 29, 2023, and bodies were recovered days later. Several co-defendants have already pleaded guilty. The case is part of a larger joint U.S.-Canada effort to disrupt transnational smuggling networks.