Tennessee family facing deportation after 15 years of seeking asylum for homeschooling in Germany is pleading for help from the US government.
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike, along with their five children, have made a comfortable home for themselves in East Tennessee after fleeing their home country of Germany where homeschooling is illegal. The family has been living in the US for the past 15 years after being fined for homeschooling their children in Germany. But now, their stay is in jeopardy as their request for asylum has been denied and deportation looms over their heads.
In a recent interview with 'Fox & Friends Weekend', Uwe Romeike expressed his confusion and desperation over their predicament, stating, "They did not tell us anything. We don't really know why [this is happening]. We wonder ourselves because we can't understand."
The Romeike family initially sought asylum in the US after being persecuted in Germany for homeschooling their children. A judge granted them asylum, recognizing the family's well-founded fear of persecution based on their participation in a particular social category, in this case, homeschoolers. However, the Obama administration appealed the decision, and it was ultimately overturned in court.
The Justice Department explained their decision to deny the Romeike family's asylum claim by stating, "The goal in Germany is for an open, pluralistic society. Teaching tolerance to children of all backgrounds helps to develop the ability to interact as a fully functioning citizen in Germany."
Since then, the family's stay in the US has been in limbo, but they were allowed to remain in the country. Now, with their asylum claim denied and their deportation imminent, the Romeike family is facing the same persecution they fled from 15 years ago. "It is illegal for us to homeschool in Germany, so if we are sent back, we will face the same persecution as before," Hannelore Romeike stated.
Their attorney, Kevin Boden, argues that this is indeed an asylum case and that the family has a well-founded fear of persecution in Germany. "Today, I talked to families that still fear persecution in Germany for homeschooling, just as the Romeike family does. It is a very real and ongoing problem," Boden said.
Despite reaching out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment, 'Fox & Friends Weekend' did not receive a response in time for their segment. However, the Romeike family and their attorney are pleading for help from the Biden administration and other federal agencies to allow the family to stay in the US and continue to live their lives without fear of persecution.
The fate of the Romeike family now rests in the hands of the US government. Uwe and Hannelore Romeike's plea for asylum for the sake of their children's education has turned into a 15-year-long battle. As they anxiously await a decision, it is clear that the fight for homeschooling rights in Germany rages on, and the Romeike family is caught in the crossfire.