Friends of U.S. army deserter say he faces deportation on Monday

By: THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER - Friends of a U.S. army deserter who failed to get refugee status in Canada say the 25-year-old who fled to Canada to avoid serving in Iraq is facing deportation this week. Supporters of Robin Long say he learned Friday at a hastily called deportation hearing that the Canada Border Services Agency plans to send him back to the U.S. as early as next Monday. "This is quite a bombshell in what we thought was a pretty routine administration hearing," said Bob Ages of the Vancouver War Resisters Support Campaign. Long had been arrested for allegedly failing to report in by telephone, Ages said. "Rather than just getting a finger waving or upping his bond, they say, 'There's no point in releasing him because we're deporting him tomorrow."' Long's lawyer will be looking for a stay of deportation and... [read full story]