Dear Canada: Stop the deportation of Kimberly Rivera
Iraq War veteran turned resister facing five years in US military brig if deported1. Hold a vigil at a Canadian consulate near you next Tuesday, September 18th, to ask the Canadian government to "Let Kimberly and all war resisters stay in Canada!". Here's a list of Canadian Government Offices in the US.
In San Francisco, join supporters at the Canadian consulate on Tuesday, September 18th from Noon to 2pm, at 580 California Street.
2. Check the War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada) for breaking news: resisters.ca
3. Sign WRSC's change.org petition for Kimberly.
Kimberly Rivera is a US soldier who fled to Canada after she became disillusioned with the Iraq War in 2007. Kimberly, who lives in Toronto with her family, went to Canada to avoid a second tour in Iraq. She had initially arrived while on leave but then applied for refugee status from the Canadian government. Kimberly grew to oppose the Iraq war while she was taking part in it. She is currently appealing a Canadian court ruling that would have her deported to the US by next Thursday, September 20th. She faces up to five years in military prison if returned to the US.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the Canadian federal government does not believe the US subjects its soldiers to persecution. "Military deserters from the United States are not genuine refugees under the internationally accepted meaning of the term," said Alexis Pavlich, the minister's press secretary, in an email.
Rivera is also considering asking the government to delay her deportation while her humanitarian and compassionate grounds application is still being weighed.
"My biggest fear is being separated from my children and having to sit in a prison for politically being against the war in Iraq," Kimberly Rivera declared during a recent press conference in Toronto.
Courage to Resist is preparing to do everything possible to support Kimberly and her family if deported. Check resisters.ca for updates!By Alexandra Posadzki, The Canadian Press. August 31, 2012
TORONTO - An American soldier who fled to Canada after she became disillusioned with the Iraq war is weighing her legal options after a ruling that would have her deported to the U.S.
"My biggest fear is being separated from my children and having to sit in a prison for politically being against the war in Iraq," Kimberly Rivera told a news conference Friday.
Rivera was joined by a number of groups, including the War Resisters Support Campaign, Amnesty International and the Canadian Labour Congress, who urged Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to let Rivera, her husband and their four children stay in Canada.
