The first female US war resister to flee to Canada got a last minute reprieve from a judge and will not be deported Thursday.
Dozens of supporters welcomed the news 26-year-old Kimberly Rivera had been granted an emergency stay by a federal court and would be able to stay in Canada. But it's only for a couple of weeks or a few months at the most.
"This is a slight victory. I don't have to go home tomorrow. It gives me another day to fight," noted a happy Rivera.
After refusing to serve a second tour in Iraq, Rivera fled to Canada with her family in 2007. If she is ordered back to the States, she could face more than a year behind bars and separation from her family - including her four-month-old daughter.
"I'm extremely pleased to see the federal court did the right thing to let her stay. I hope Stephen Harper will also do the right thing," suggested NDP MP Olivia Chow.
Chow will be bringing forward a motion Thursday asking the federal government not to deport any more war resisters.