I think that to work with refugee claimants and other vulnerable migrants is to bear witness to the real fear that comes with not having status. I think that this adds a dimension to complaints—possibly some related to the RCMP, but far more to the CBSA—when status is an issue, as is the precariousness of even being in Canada. People who fear for their lives back in their country of origin fear persecution and are trying to get status. They do not want, in most cases, to do anything that is going to jeopardize their safety or rock the boat. They don't necessarily distinguish between the CBSA, the IRCC or the Immigration and Refugee Board. It's all the Government of Canada.
Also, there's the power imbalance, especially when we talk about racialized communities. Seeing authorities in uniform.... Many people who are interacting with the CBSA, especially people seeking refugee status, have fled from state authorities that are violating human rights. That is a significant part of the reason they have come here. Seeing a uniform can, in and of itself, create fear.
People may also not feel like it's worth it if they're being deported. It could jeopardize their only chance to be released from detention just before deportation. What often happens is that people being deported want to arrive in their country in the most minimally obvious way possible so that they don't attract the attention of the authorities. If they do, then they might end up in arbitrary detention. They might end up in interrogation and even being tortured. We hear about these things happening.
I could go on and on about all of the barriers that people face in making complaints about the way that they're treated. Having frontline people like me and our membership being able to support somebody who wants to make a complaint, maybe formulate it in their name with their consent.... I've mentioned a few times today that we need the ability to raise concerns, especially on patterns of behaviour and systemic issues, without people having to name themselves, which can be terrifying. Unfortunately, if we don't allow for this option, most of the most egregious examples will never come to light.