Deserter Corey Glass Rejected in Canada - Updated

(Toronto) The Immigration and Refugee Board has denied National Guard Sgt. Corey Glass' application for refugee status.

Consequently, the Canadian Border Services Agency has issued a June 12 deportation order.

"All refugee claimants have a right to due process," said Danielle Norris, a spokeswoman for Customs and Immigrations Canada. "When they have exhausted all legal avenues, we expect them to respect our laws and leave the country."

Glass, of Fairmont, Indiana, says he joined the National Guard believing that he would be deployed only if the United States faced occupation. After he returned from his first tour of duty, he said he tried to leave the Army, but was told that desertion was punishable by death.

War resister advocates are hoping for a political appeal through the House of Commons.

Norris also said that 40 refugee claims from U.S. deserters have been filed since 2003 and only five have made it to the Canadian Federal Court of Appeals. All five have been rejected.

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Deserter Corey Glass in Canada
[Previous 4/01/07 entry]
(Toronto, Canada) United States Army deserter, Sgt. Corey Glass, 23, is seeking refugee status in Canada with his case currently before the Immigration and Refugee Board. A decision is expected at some "later date."

Glass contends that he deserted because the Iraq war is illegal and he's mad because when he joined the National Guard, he thought it was a humanitarian organization. What?

Furthermore, if refugee status is declined in Canada, Glass says he'll look to become a refugee in another country because he's not planning on returning to the U.S.

Glass has been hiding for the last seven months after going AWOL while on leave. He said he misses his parents and three siblings.