Rights group to file privacy complaint over reality TV immigration raids

VANCOUVER – Rights advocates will file a complaint today with the federal privacy watchdog on behalf of a migrant worker who was arrested in front of reality TV camera crews.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association will formalize its concerns over the immigration raids by the Canada Border Services Agency last week in Vancouver.

The groups will ask the Privacy Commissioner to scrutinize the case of Oscar Mata Duran, who was deported on Tuesday — several days after he was questioned as the cameras rolled.

It will allege the agency broke federal law and violated the man’s rights for the show Border Security, a TV show produced by Force Four Entertainment.

Immigration officers arrived last week at a construction site for a low-rise condo building with a warrant to arrest a single worker, bringing along a camera operator and sound technician, but ended up arresting six people.

Earlier this week, federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews defended the use of the reality cameras, saying that illegal immigrants cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars as well as jobs.