A U.S. soldier who fled to Canada because he refused to serve in Iraq has been deported, and now faces a possible court martial.

Robin Long crossed the border into Canada in 2005. Last October, he was arrested in Nelson, B.C., on a Canada-wide warrant.

He called military operations in Iraq "an illegal war of aggression."

On Monday, Federal Court of Canada Justice Anne Mactavish said Long did not provide enough convincing evidence that he will face irreparable harm if he's sent back to the United States.

She noted that the percentage of American military deserters prosecuted in the U.S. has increased since 2002. However, she said the vast majority were not prosecuted, let alone jailed for desertion.

Between 2002 and 2006, Mactavish said about 94 per cent of U.S. deserters only received "a less than honourable discharge from the military."

Long, 25, had argued that he would be "singled out for harsh treatment by the Americans because of the publicity associated with his case."

But the judge ruled that Long failed to provide clear evidence in support of his argument.

Following the ruling, the chairman of the Vancouver War Resisters' Support Campaign said he believed Long's deportation would be the first time an army deserter has been forced out of Canada.

Bob Ages said Long will likely be returned to Fort Knox.

"We will be caucusing, trying to figure out what we can do,'' said Ages.

Long is one of several U.S. army deserters who claimed refugee status in Canada but none have yet been successful.

With files from The Canadian Press