A devout Christian family fled to the U.S. 15 years ago on account of its persecution by the German state. Despite an initially successful asylum claim and setting down roots in Tennessee, the Obama administration saw fit to deracinate the Romeike clan. The Biden administration was set to follow through with the family’s expulsion this month but came up against significant opposition.
A week after once again raising the alarm about the family’s potential deportation, Blaze Media co-founder and nationally syndicated radio host Glenn Beck spoke to the Romeike matriarch about how she and her family have been granted a 12-month reprieve.
“That was a big relief,” said Hannelore Romeike. “We are very thankful.”
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“Someone at the top said, ‘Make this go away. Find them out for another year. We don’t want to deal with it,'” suggested Boden.
While the Romeike family’s fight to remain in America has yet to be resolved, Hannelore nevertheless noted her gratitude for the “American people who prayed and fought on our side,” stressing the importance of prayer — a lesson she made sure to drive home when homeschooling her five children.
“I also want to encourage the American people that the Lord hears their prayers,” said Hannelore. “Sometimes we get discouraged and we think, ‘You know, maybe it’s not enough.’ But prayers are powerful, and we felt the effects.”
What’s the background?
Hannelore and Uwe Romeike determined in 2006 that they would homeschool their five children. Their native country of Germany, which is notoriously strict about homeschooling, subsequently hit the couple with overwhelming fines, sent police to take their kids to school, and appeared poised to tear their family apart.
State schooling has been required by German law since 1919.
“A general exemption from compulsory education for pedagogical or religious reasons is not allowed,” the Conference of German Culture Ministers told DW.
To save what mattered most, the Romeike family left everything behind and fled to the U.S. in 2008.
“We came over here to America and we came with only suitcases … with a few clothes and a few German books and toys. And American people came and brought us clothes, food and blankets and furniture,” Hannelore told Beck. “That’s how we met the American people. They always treated us with respect, laughed [with] us, helped us, blessed us. So that’s how we met the American people. They were always a blessing.”
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Evidently, the Democratic administration disagreed.
The Obama Department of Justice appealed the decision, and the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals subsequently revoked the family’s asylum status in May 2012, reported the Tennessean.
On May 7, the DOJ’s Executive Office for Immigration Review issued a final order for the removal of Uwe Romeike, 51; Hannelore Romeike, 50; Daniel Romeike, 25; Lydia Romeike, 24; Joshua Romeike, 23; Christian Romeike, 21; and Damaris Romeike, 18.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision on July 12, 2013, with the three-judge panel noting, “As the Board of Immigration Appeals permissibly found, the German authorities have not singled out the Romeikes in particular or homeschoolers in general for persecution. As a result, we must deny the Romeikes’ petition for review and, with it, their applications for asylum.”
The Supreme Court declined to consider the case, snuffing out “the last judicial hope for the family.”
Despite these setbacks, the Home School Legal Defense Association indicated in early 2014 that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had decided to grant the family “indefinite deferred status.”
Accordingly, they could live, work, and remain in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
Over the past 15 years, the Romeike family has done just that, deepening its roots in Morristown, Tennessee. The family now includes two American citizens and two kids married to American citizens.
A rare Biden administration ouster
The Biden administration nearly brought the Romeike family’s American dream to an end this week.
On Sept. 6 — following a month where 232,972 illegal aliens stole across the southern border — the family was informed during a routine check-in that their deferred status had been revoked. Accordingly, they were given four weeks to apply for German passports so they could be deported on Oct. 11.
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The Romeike family told Blaze News that going back to Germany “would mean having to face the same or worse persecution due to homeschooling [their] children; fines, jail time, loss of custody.”
For their “children who all grew up here for all or most of their childhood it would mean to be uprooted from their home, friends and country they love.”
This did not sit well with thousands of people, including lawmakers in Washington, D.C..
Over 116,960 people signed a petition imploring the Biden administration to “set this right,” and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation on Sept. 12 that would enable the family to stay.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wrote to the Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas on Sept. 27, urging the Biden administration to “reverse course.”
Blackburn suggested the Romeike’s planned deportation “highlights the two standards of justice that have been a constant theme of President Biden’s first two and a half years in office.”
The HSLDA also asked lawmakers on the House Judiciary committee to request a report from ICE on the Romeikes and their immigration status before the family’s date of deportation. During that time, Congress reviewed the report, ICE would more or less be prevented from following through with the deportations.
Despite the overwhelming support for the family and mounting pressure on the Biden administration to back off, it remained unclear days into October whether a stay would be granted.
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The agency referenced the final order of removal for seven members of the Romeike family, adding, “Once a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge or other lawful means, ERO officers may carry out the removal.”
Deportation delayed
The HSLDA announced on Oct. 6 that the family had been given a one-year delay of deportation.
Kevin Boden stated, “I spoke personally with the ICE officer in Knoxville, who told me we can anticipate them signing the order of supervision out for another year. And while we are very grateful for this news, we are continuing to advocate for a long-term solution for the Romeike family to allow their permanent stay in the United States.”
Rep. Harshbarger said in an Oct. 6 statement, “Good news! ICE has granted a one-year stay of removal for the Romeike family. My colleagues in Congress, beginning with those on the Judiciary Committee, now have time to consider my bill, H.R. 5423. This bill would grant the Romeikes permanent residency.”
“I would also like to thank the Home School Legal Defense Association for its guidance in helping me secure this one-year stay as a stopgap so my work to pass H.R. 5423 may continue,” added the Tennessee congresswoman.
Beck indicated that Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) was among the lawmakers who stepped up and applied pressure on the family’s behalf.
“I will tell you the presidential candidate named Scott from South Carolina made a few phone calls as well. So they got some heat from some important people. So hopefully that played a role,” said Beck.
When the original deportation date finally rolled around, ICE confirmed the one-year delay.
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“Officers prioritize enforcement actions in accordance with the Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law issued by Secretary Mayorkas on Sept. 30, 2021, and reinstituted on June 28 of this year — obtaining and reviewing entire criminal and administrative records and any other investigative information available, when taking decisive law enforcement actions,” continued the statement.
“In this instance, after a thorough review of the case, ICE determined this does not meet current enforcement priorities. Accordingly, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) has approved a one-year order of supervision for the Romeike family.”
The Romeike family told Blaze News that this reprieve means they can continue with their lives and with homeschooling their children “in freedom without being persecuted as [they] would be in Germany.”
Besides, America is now home.
Whereas in early reports about their journey to the U.S., members of the Romeike family noted they would consider returning to Germany if the homeschooling laws changed, they indicated Friday, “After having lived in the U.S. for 15 years, this has become our home.”
“We love our community and are very involved socially with work and our church,” they told Blaze News. “Leaving now even with changed laws in Germany would be hard. We don’t want to go back and believe God will make a way for our family to stay here.”
Boden emphasized that the 12-month reprieve “is not a long-term solution. This is a Band-Aid. This is a placeholder.”
Boden further suggested that additional help from Sen. Scott and others on the hill “would be wonderful.”
“We continue to pray and believe for a permanent status (citizenship) for our family,” said the Romeikes. “That may happen through a House/Senate bill or otherwise. We trust God in this.”
Faith, family, and the fight ahead
Drawing on their experience, the Romeikes are as committed as ever to homeschooling and to the corresponding parental rights.
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While the family noted that homeschooling is very popular in the U.S. and continues to grow, it still is at risk of being over-regulated by the government “unless parents are alert and fight for their parental rights.”
In conversation with Beck, Hannelore reflected on some of the lessons she has shared with her children.
“I was thinking, ‘What did we teach our children?’ … Teach them to respect authority, but they have to learn to stand against tyranny,” continued Hannelore. “If the authorities are against God’s law, we must obey God rather than men. God’s law is higher than men. And Jesus says we need to fear God more than men. So I feel this is the time not to sit on the sidelines but to become bold for the Lord.”
When pressed by Beck on how the faithful can push back the growing darkness, Hannelore said, “By turning on the light. … We are the light and the salt. We make the world thirsty for the living water and we show them the light of God. … Be the light he has called us to be. That’s how we win this battle. Look up to Jesus.”
* ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
https://www.theblaze.com/news/facing-pressure-the-biden-administration-deferred-deporation-of-a-devout-christian-family-that-fled-germany
