Robin Long is one of several US Army deserters who sought asylum in Canada because of his opposition to the Iraq War and became the first of those to be deported to the United States after being rejected for refugee status.
19 Facts About Robin Long
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Robin Long was deported from Canada on July 15,2008.
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At the time he voluntarily enlisted in July 2003, Robin Long believed that his country was justified in going to war in Iraq, his lawyer Shepherd Moss said at the court hearing to halt the deportation of July 2008.
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Robin Long trained for two years at Fort Knox in Kentucky.
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Robin Long's perspective changed while in training at the Army base at Fort Knox.
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Robin Long concluded the abuse was systemic and condoned by the US administration, Moss said.
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Robin Long reportedly decided that he didn't want to go to Iraq after talking to people who had been there: "These people came back and were telling these horrific stories and our superiors were egging people on, some people were actually volunteering to go over there and it just seemed like justified homicide", he said in the interview.
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Robin Long sought to be accepted as a refugee in September, 2006.
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Robin Long moved to British Columbia in the summer of 2007.
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Robin Long's case was heard on July 14,2008, in front of Madam Justice Anne Mactavish of the Federal Court of Canada.
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Robin Long was in custody at a location outside Vancouver.
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Judge Mactavish stated that Robin Long did not provide evidence to show he would be singled out for harsh treatment by the US military because of the publicity associated with case.
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Robin Long was court-martialed at Fort Carson, Colorado in August 2008.
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At the trial, Robin Long pleaded guilty to desertion and was given a sentence of 15 months in prison, reduction in rank to E-1 private, and a dishonorable discharge.
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Robin Long was represented by James M Branum, William Durland and Captain Seth Cohen.
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On November 6,2008, Robin Long authored an open letter to then President-elect Barack Obama which included the following words:.
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On July 9,2009, Robin Long was released from prison.
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Robin Long has not heard back but continues the appeal.
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Robin Long's wife is unable to move to the United States because she receives full medical benefits for her MS in Canada and would not be able to get treatment here, his lawyer, Branum said.