American Soldier Denied Refuge in Canada
According to CNN.com, some American soldiers disillusioned with the war in Iraq have fled to Canada to escape returning to the front lines of battle. But Canadian immigration officials have reportedly ruled to deny these soldiers refuge, and plan to begin deporting them to the U.S. early next month.
Corey Glass, a 25-year-old soldier who escaped to Toronto in 2006 after serving in Iraq, allegedly sought refuge in Canada because he no longer supported the Iraq war, which he considers "illegal and immoral." Still technically on active duty, Glass is considered AWOL (absent without leave). Sources indicate he applied for refugee status in 2006.
But, according to AFP reports, the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board has ruled that war resisters do not fall into the traditional refugee categories outlined by the United Nations, and so are not eligible for protection. Sources report that Glass is scheduled to be deported June 12th.
Apparently, though, some Canadian groups are unsatisfied with this decision and are pushing for new legislation that would provide a haven for Americans with moral objections to U.S. policies.
Specifically, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration has reportedly called for the Canadian government to implement a program that would provide residency to conscientious objectors who have quit military service because of wars "not sanctioned by the United Nations." The law is apparently still awaiting legislative approval.
In the meantime, it seems the War Resisters Support Campaign has found shelter for Glass and the estimated hundreds of other U.S. soldiers who have escaped military service by fleeing to our neighbor to the North.
A representative for the WRSC has evidently expressed disappointment with the Immigration Board's decision, noting that the ruling marks a break with Canada's tradition of providing refuge for Americans who objected certain U.S. institutions (like slavery) and conflicts (like the Vietnam War).
According to sources, Glass's deportation comes in part because the Immigration and Refugee Board ruled that Glass wasn't likely enough to face persecution and/or cruel and unusual punishment upon his return to the States. This, though the punishment for desertion of the military can range from demotion to death, depending on the severity of the crime.
Reports indicate that 40 similar cases have been heard in Canadian courts since the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003; of them, only five reached the highest level of appeal. None of the cases, it seems, was actually heard by that court. Glass will be the first of these soldiers deported if any further appeals of his case are unsuccessful.
Learn more about immigration policies in the United States.
Related Pages:
The Rights of Undocumented Immigrants
Immigration Activist Deported after Seeking Refuge in a Church