Canada Deports U.S. Soldier Who Fled To Avoid Iraq War

Canada Deports U.S. Soldier

Canada has ordered the deportation of a female soldier who fled the U.S. military in order to avoid the war in Iraq, officials said Thursday.

Earlier this week, American soldier Kimberly Rivera was issued a deportation order, which stated that she only has until September 20 to leave Canada.

The 30-year-old Army private served in Iraq in 2006. She said she became disillusioned with the mission and decided to cross the border into Canada while on leave in February 2007, after she was ordered to serve another tour in Iraq. The first female U.S. war resister, she applied for refugee status after her arrival in Canada.

Rivera's lawyer, Alyssa Manning, said her client is considering appealing the deportation ruling. She, however, anticipates Rivera could face a jail sentence of between two to five years.

Rivera has also applied for permanent residency in Canada based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, which she hoped would take into account the fact that she has four children, ages 10, 8, 3, and 18 months, the youngest of which were born in Canada.

Via CBC News Canada