On November 15th Canada’s Supreme Court ruled that it would not hear an appeal by two US soldiers who had sought refuge in Canada rather than participate in the US’s invasion and occupation of Iraq, which they consider to be illegal. Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, the two conscientious objectors, were contesting the decision of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRBC), which was later confirmed by two lower level federal courts, to reject their application for political asylum based on the illegality of the Iraq War. The ruling means that they and other American soldiers who have filed formal applications for refugee status could be deported back to the US, where they could face court martial for going AWOL (absent without "leave," or permission) and missing troop movements. The rejection also closes off potential legal status for other U.S. military personnel who have gone to Canada and stayed without current documents. An estimated 300 or more AWOL U.S. soldiers are living in Canada.

Rallies were held in cities around Canada following the ruling, as part of a campaign to pressure Parliament to write a law that would allow resisters and their families to stay in that country. Courage to Resist is encouraging people to sign petitions and to write letters to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley, and Stéphane Dion of the Liberal Party, asking them to provide sanctuary for the US military resisters.

Courage to Resist's "Dear Canada" Campaign | UFPJ: Dear Canada, Let US War Resisters Stay! | Courage to Resist's Interview with Kimberly Rivera, a GI resister who is seeking refugee status in Canada | Interview with GI Resister Brad McCall | World Socialist Website: Canada's Supreme Court opens door to deportation of US "war resisters" | Repost: "Canada Court Says AWOL Soldiers Not Refugees | Announcement of 11/15 press conference | Film: Breaking Ranks | GI Rights Hotline