One of the first U.S. Army deserters from Iraq to seek refugee status in Canada has been ordered deported. Jeremy Hinzman said Wednesday he was ordered out of the country by Sept. 23 by Canada's Border Services Agency. Hinzman deserted the Army from Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2004 after learning his unit was to be deployed to Iraq. He refused to participate in what he calls an immoral and illegal war. Hinzman, 29, fled to Canada with his wife and son after he was ordered to deploy to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division in December 2003. He likely faces military charges in the U.S.
"I'm disappointed, but I think that every soldier that has refused to fight in Iraq has done a good thing and I'm not ashamed," Hinzman said moments after learning of the decision.
Hinzman said reasons were given for the decision but he hadn't gone over them yet. "I don't know how political it was. I had a high profile case," Hinzman said.
| Hasn't reviewed the ruling yet but able nonetheless to complain and whine. How typical ... |
Hinzman fled in January 2004. He had served three years in the Army, but had applied for conscientious objector status before his unit was sent to Afghanistan in 2002 where he served in a non-combat position.
Last month, Robin Long became the first resister to the U.S war effort in Iraq to be removed by Canadian authorities. There are about 200 American deserters believed to have come to Canada trying to avoid service in Iraq. So far, Canadian immigration officials and the courts have rejected efforts to grant them refugee status.