Christian homeschool family hopeful despite Biden admin’s deportation efforts.
A Christian Family Faces Deportation After 15 Years in America
A Christian family of nine who fled persecution in Germany and moved to the United States in 2008 was stunned when immigration agents told it to prepare for deportation after 15 years of life in America, but remains hopeful that “God will make a way” for them to remain in the country they have come to love.
In a phone interview with The Daily Wire on Wednesday, Uwe Romeike said he and his family, who settled in a small town in Tennessee, were caught off guard when they were told to come in for a meeting with an immigration agent after they just had their annual check-in a few months ago. During that check-in earlier this month, Uwe, his wife Hannelore, and their five oldest children were told to prepare to self-deport, and return in four weeks with their German passports.
“This came as a surprise. We did not expect anything like this,” Uwe said, adding that the feds have not given them any explanation for the sudden move to deport him and his family. But Uwe, a piano accompanist at Carson-Newman University, said he is trusting God with what happens next.
“We still trust God to make a way for us to stay here. I know it’s kind of impossible, but that’s where we know God can still do the impossible,” Uwe said, adding that if they are forced to go back to Germany, they will face the same type of persecution they fled as they continue to homeschool their two youngest children, such as being fined around $300 a day.
Change of Orders and Uncertainty
The attorney representing the Romeikes, Kevin Boden of the Home School Legal Defense Association, told The Daily Wire that it appears Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) received new orders on handling the Romeikes, but said it’s unclear where the “change of orders” came from.
“It’s tough to know — is it a new official who came into ICE and is looking at this? Is it the Biden administration? Is it just the individual ICE officer who doesn’t understand this or was there some superior in the bureaucratic process somewhere who just decided they wanted to affect the deportation? I don’t know,” Boden said. “I don’t want to speculate, but there appears to be some change of orders at some point in the chain there.”
Fleeing Persecution and Fighting for Homeschooling
Romeike and his wife moved their five children at the time to the United States after facing fines from the German government for pulling their children out of the public school system. Homeschooling is rarely permitted in Germany and only for medical reasons. When the Romeikes began homeschooling in 2006, the German government levied fines that amounted to around $9,000 and threatened to remove the Romeike children from the care of their parents, WBIR reported.
The couple, who had two more children after moving to the United States, were granted permission by an immigration judge to live in the country. After the Obama administration’s Department of Justice fought the decision, the family took the fight to the courts, which ultimately ruled against them in 2013, arguing that the Romeikes did not prove that they faced persecution in Germany.
While the appeals court judge ruled against the Romeikes’ asylum claims, the family was allowed to remain in the United States indefinitely, and they checked in annually with an immigration agent.
Deportation Amidst Record-Breaking Immigration Numbers
The Romeikes were told to prepare for deportation as the Biden administration continues to oversee record-breaking numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border into the United States. Many of the migrants who enter the country illegally are housed near the border or bused to cities throughout the United States, where they are fed and given rooms at the expense of the taxpayer while they await an immigration hearing. An ICE agent told Fox News last year that some of the illegal immigrants being released into the country have criminal records for misdemeanors such as assault, drunken driving, and drug possession.
When asked about the sudden decision to deport the Romeike family, an ICE spokesperson told The Daily Wire that each case is appropriately reviewed by the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Fighting to Stay in America
The father of seven also said his children who have already received their high school diplomas in the United States would be forced to undergo schooling again in Germany since the country wouldn’t recognize their homeschool education, but he remains resolute in keeping his children out of the public school system. Uwe told The Daily Wire that he knows of homeschooling families in Germany who have also had their homes and businesses taken away by the state.
The Romeike’s attorney said the sudden decision from the federal government to deport the Christian homeschooling family is mind-boggling on multiple levels, but his organization is going to fight for the Romeikes to remain in America and continue living the life they built in rural Tennessee.
“If you had to think about all the people that you would have to be concerned about in the United States, this is the type of family that you would absolutely welcome into your community,” Boden said.
How does the potential deportation of the Romeike family impact the principles of religious freedom and human rights
Ping to seek asylum and establish a better life for themselves and their families. While the situation at the southern border remains a significant concern for immigration officials, it is crucial to consider cases like that of the Romeike family, who have been law-abiding, contributing members of society for over a decade.
The Romeike family’s journey began when they faced persecution in Germany for homeschooling their children. In their home country, homeschooling is rarely permitted, and the Romeikes received fines and threats from the German government. Faced with the prospect of losing custody of their children, they made the difficult decision to flee to America in search of freedom and a better future.
Upon their arrival in the United States in 2008, the Romeikes were granted permission to live in the country by an immigration judge. However, their case faced opposition from the Obama administration’s Department of Justice, leading to a series of legal battles. Despite the challenges, the family was permitted to stay in the United States indefinitely, provided they checked in annually with an immigration agent.
It is disheartening to see that after 15 years of building a life in America, the Romeike family now faces the possibility of deportation. The recent instructions from immigration agents to prepare for their self-deportation have left them shocked and uncertain about their future. The family’s patriarch, Uwe Romeike, who works as a piano accompanist at Carson-Newman University, remains hopeful and trusting in God’s plan.
One can’t help but wonder about the motivation behind this sudden change in orders from immigration authorities. While it is unclear whether this decision was influenced by a new official, the Biden administration or an individual officer’s misunderstanding, it forces us to reconsider the system’s fairness and consistency.
If the Romeike family is forced to return to Germany, they will likely face the same persecution they originally fled from. The family’s commitment to homeschooling their youngest children, in line with their Christian beliefs and values, would once again subject them to fines and potential repercussions.
In the midst of record-breaking immigration numbers and the challenges at the southern border, it is essential to remember cases like that of the Romeike family. These individuals have diligently followed the legal process and genuinely contributed to their communities. Their story reminds us of the complexity of immigration issues and the need for compassion and understanding.
As supporters and advocates of religious freedom and human rights, we must question the decision to uproot a Christian family that has found peace and safety in the United States. The Romeikes have shown their commitment to faith, education, and contribution to society. It is our responsibility to stand with them and appeal to the authorities to reconsider their deportation order.
While we recognize the need for a comprehensive immigration system and the challenges faced by immigration officials, we must approach each case with fairness, compassion, and a commitment to justice. The Romeike family’s case is not just about immigration; it is about religious freedom, parental rights, and the pursuit of a better life.
This family deserves a chance to continue living in the country they have come to love, where they have found refuge from persecution. We must come together as a society to support them, advocate on their behalf, and remind our government leaders of the fundamental principles that make America a beacon of hope and freedom.
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