Make It Easier, Not More Complex: Employee Views on Immigration Detention Decision‐Making in Canada

Abstract

Rising public scrutiny has put immigration detention systems under pressure to defend their decision‐making practices. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has drawn attention in this area, largely due to its partnerships with correctional agencies. Critics challenge CBSA's framework for placing noncitizens in these facilities, characterizing its risk assessment practices as opaque, arbitrary, and subjective. To address these concerns, CBSA commissioned us to develop an empirical tool for guiding immigration detention decisions—spanning conditional release to security classification level within detention. We surveyed 92 CBSA employees using mixed methods to gain their insights and ensure the operational utility of our tool. Top‐rated risk factors for decision‐making were criminal/compliance history, mental health, cooperation, identity concerns, and behaviour. We also identified misconceptions about standardized risk tools, the need for a streamlined assessment process, gaps in mental health guidance, operational decision‐making barriers, and opportunities for enhanced training. This study provides a foundation for developing an operationally useful tool that will improve the transparency and defensibility of CBSA's immigration detention decisions.