U.S. Army Deserter Faces Court Martial - Update

(Fort Carson, Colorado)

A court-martial got underway Monday for the first female U.S. Army soldier to flee to Canada to avoid a second tour of duty in the Iraq war.

Army Pfc. Kimberly Rivera is charged with desertion and could face up to five years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported.

Rivera was assigned to Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and served in Iraq in 2006. She has said that, while there, she became disillusioned with the U.S. mission in Iraq.

During a two-week leave in the U.S. in 2007, Rivera crossed the Canadian border after she was ordered to serve another tour in Iraq. She applied for refugee status but was denied.

Rivera attempted other avenues to remain in Canada but they were all denied. Canadian politicians are not supportive of Rivera because she voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. military.

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U.S. Army Deserter Arrested at Border
[Previous 9/23/12 post]
(Fort Drum, New York) A 30-year-old female deserter from the United States Army, Kimberly Rivera, was arrested at a border crossing Thursday after her deportation was ordered by the Canadian government.

She traveled to Canada during a home leave, citing her opposition to the war in Iraq.

Chief Tom Russert, Public Affairs Liaison for Customs and Border Protection field operations, confirmed Rivera’s arrest Thursday morning at the Alexandria Bay Border Crossing.

“She was wanted for being a military deserter, there was a warrant for her arrest,” said Russert. He said Rivera was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel and turned over to Fort Drum, an Army base 30 miles away from the border crossing where she was arrested.

Rivera skipped to Canada in 2007 due to political opposition to war and applied for refugee status. But she was denied. Now she faces prosecution by the U.S. Army, possibly a court martial.