U.S. Military Deserters in Canada

From the story, "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country." By Megan Feldman. Photos by Ian Willms.

Scroll down to view images

Kim Rivera, the first female Iraq war deserter to seek refuge in Canada, shows her newfound anti-war stance through buttons on her purse.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Kim Rivera, the first female Iraq war deserter to seek refuge in Canada, shows her newfound anti-war stance through buttons on her purse.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

1 of 18

Rivera and her children, Christian, 6, and Rebecca, 4, are waiting for Canada’s high courts to review the government’s denial of their asylum application. Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Rivera and her children, Christian, 6, and Rebecca, 4, are waiting for Canada’s high courts to review the government’s denial of their asylum application.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

2 of 18

Rivera waits for a streetcar in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Rivera waits for a streetcar in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

3 of 18

Lee Zaslofsky, a Brooklyn-born Vietnam deserter who runs the Toronto-based War Resisters Support Campaign, protests the deportation of American deserters.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Lee Zaslofsky, a Brooklyn-born Vietnam deserter who runs the Toronto-based War Resisters Support Campaign, protests the deportation of American deserters.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

4 of 18

Ryan Johnson, a deserter from California formerly stationed at Fort Irwin, hopes to get asylum in Canada.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Ryan Johnson, a deserter from California formerly stationed at Fort Irwin, hopes to get asylum in Canada.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

5 of 18

Ryan Johnson, a resister from California, rallies at a War Resisters Support Campaign
demonstration at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Ryan Johnson, a resister from California, rallies at a War Resisters Support Campaign demonstration at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

6 of 18

A handful of American Iraq War deserters hold signs at a Toronto demonstration, asking that Canada grant them shelter from what they say is an illegal and immoral war.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

A handful of American Iraq War deserters hold signs at a Toronto demonstration, asking that Canada grant them shelter from what they say is an illegal and immoral war.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

7 of 18

The documentary short Deserter, about Ryan Johnson’s decision to leave his post at Fort Irwin, California and flee to Canada, plays at the War Resisters Support Campaign office in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

The documentary short Deserter, about Ryan Johnson’s decision to leave his post at Fort Irwin, California and flee to Canada, plays at the War Resisters Support Campaign office in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

8 of 18

Ryan Johnson, who left his post at Fort Irwin, California and fled with his wife to Canada, speaks to a group of supporters at the screening of the documentary, Deserter, at the War Resisters Support Campaign offices in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Ryan Johnson, who left his post at Fort Irwin, California and fled with his wife to Canada, speaks to a group of supporters at the screening of the documentary, Deserter, at the War Resisters Support Campaign offices in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

9 of 18

Air Force deserter Dale Landry (left) and Army deserter Ryan
Johnson ride the streetcar in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Air Force deserter Dale Landry (left) and Army deserter Ryan Johnson ride the streetcar in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

10 of 18

War resister Dale Landry (left), friend and supporter Helyn Fisher and war resister Ryan Johnson talk on their porch in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

War resister Dale Landry (left), friend and supporter Helyn Fisher and war resister Ryan Johnson talk on their porch in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

11 of 18

Ryan Johnson, who deserted from Fort Irwin, California and is seeking refuge in Canada, says much of his family has disowned him because of his decision.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Ryan Johnson, who deserted from Fort Irwin, California and is seeking refuge in Canada, says much of his family has disowned him because of his decision.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

12 of 18

At their apartment in Toronto, Kim and Mario Rivera discuss their food budget for the week.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

At their apartment in Toronto, Kim and Mario Rivera discuss their food budget for the week.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

13 of 18

Kim Rivera -- waiting news on her stay of deportation -- rests while her husband Mario tends to their baby, Katie, at their Toronto apartment.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Kim Rivera -- waiting news on her stay of deportation -- rests while her husband Mario tends to their baby, Katie, at their Toronto apartment.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

14 of 18

Mario Rivera checks his e-mail while waiting for news on the stay of deportation that would allow him and his wife, Kim, to stay in Canada until a federal court reviews their case.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Mario Rivera checks his e-mail while waiting for news on the stay of deportation that would allow him and his wife, Kim, to stay in Canada until a federal court reviews their case.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

15 of 18

The Riveras and their three children share a two-bedroom apartment in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

The Riveras and their three children share a two-bedroom apartment in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

16 of 18

Kim Rivera grocery shops for her family in Toronto shortly after learning that her deportation had been at least temporarily halted by the federal court.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Kim Rivera grocery shops for her family in Toronto shortly after learning that her deportation had been at least temporarily halted by the federal court.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

17 of 18

Deserter Ryan Johnson (right) readies himself for the cold after a weekly meeting
at the War Resisters Support Campaign headquarters in Toronto.Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

By Ian Willms

Deserter Ryan Johnson (right) readies himself for the cold after a weekly meeting at the War Resisters Support Campaign headquarters in Toronto.

Read "No Canada: U.S. military deserters once again flock to Canada to avoid war. Looks like this time they picked the wrong country."

18 of 18