A German family sought asylum in the United States 15 years ago. They were being persecuted by their government for their deep faith in God and for homeschooling their children.
Now, without warning, the United States government says they must leave. No one will tell them why.
When Uwe and Hannelore Romeike decided to homeschool their five children, German authorities responded with fines and threats to seize custody of the children.
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Hannelore Romeike)
“In 2006, we began homeschooling our children in Germany,” Mr. Romeike told The Epoch Times. “Then we started getting in trouble with the authorities, the principal, the mayor, to the higher authorities. Then they started sending the police to take our children to school.”
Then came the fines.
“They want to ruin you financially and just force you into giving up and bringing your kids to school,” Mrs. Romeike added. “They just force you in whatever way works. Even before we left they changed the laws so that they could show up to your house without a court order and take your children. That was the last step. That’s when we decided we had to leave.”
Mr. Romeike recalled how other homeschooling parents were being arrested and thrown in jail.
The Romeike family lived in Bissingen in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg.
According to court documents (pdf), it all began on Sept. 20, 2006, when Wolfgang Rose, principal of the government school where the family lived, came to the Romeikes’ home to confront Mrs. Romeike. He demanded that her children “attend the government school, or he would retaliate with unspecified action.”
Hannelore Romeike (C) stands with four of her children—(L–R) Lydia, Josua, Daniel, and Christian (front)—at the Ludwigsburg Palace in Ludwigsburg, Germany, in 2004. (Courtesy of Hannelore Romeike)
On Sept. 25, 2006, he confronted both parents, condemning their religious beliefs and demanding that their children attend the government school “or they would suffer consequences.”
On Oct. 6, 2006, the mayor of their town contacted the Romeikes by phone, belittling their faith and threatening “consequences” if they didn’t bring their children to the government school.
Two days later, he threatened to fine them the equivalent of $45 per child per day until they complied.
On Oct. 20, 2006, police officers entered their home and forcibly took the Romeikes’ children to the government school.
Three days later they tried to do it again, but a group of the family’s neighbors, fellow homeschooling families, and people from their church gathered outside their home to protest the action and prevented the authorities from taking the children.
Sisters Sarah (L) and Becky Romeike attend a homeschool session on the back deck of their Tennessee home. (Courtesy of Hannelore Romeike)
On Oct. 24, 2006, the school principal threatened to report the Romeikes to the national Youth Welfare Office.
On Dec. 19, 2006, Mr. and Mrs. Romeike were each fined the equivalent of about $112 per school-aged child for the 22 days they had not attended the government school.
Between April 2007 and March 2008, the German government imposed additional fines in excess of $20,000.
The Romeikes tried to fight back through the German courts, but to claim the unpaid fines, officials began proceedings to seize their home, and they were going to take their children.
It was time to flee.
‘We’ve Lost Our Freedom Again’
The Romeikes have built a peaceful life in Tennessee, and they said they’ve followed all of the immigration rules.
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike meet Ryker Bates, their first American-born grandchild, on Sept. 12, 2023. (Courtesy of Hannelore Romeike)
“Then three weeks ago we were told to come back with our renewed German passports and be ready to self-remove by Oct. 11,” Mr. Romeike said. “They didn’t give us any reason why our status changed so we don’t really know what’s going on.”
“It is really hard to immigrate to America and become citizens right now, doing it the right way,” Mrs. Romeike said.
“We came here to seek freedom and we were granted that,” Mr. Romeike added. “But now we’ve lost our freedom again here in the United States.”
‘It Was Fear’
Asked why they homeschooled their children in Germany, Mr. Romeike said it was because they began noticing a change in their children after three years in the government school.
“Their personalities changed,” he recalled. “They became withdrawn and depressed. They had headaches and stomachaches, which we couldn’t figure out with a physical reason.”
Hannelore Romeike stands with the tomato plant in her home garden in Tennessee in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Hannelore Romeike)
“It was fear,” Mrs. Romeike insisted.
“They were fearful to go to school because of violence and the bullying,” he added.
Then they saw the disturbing content of the school books.
Mr. Romeike described how the textbooks promoted “trusting in Satan rather than God,” and “disobedience to your parents and authority.”
“It was beyond any reason, and that was 15 years ago,” he said. “I don’t even want to know what’s in those books now.”
Kevin Boden, a staff attorney with the HSLDF, confirmed to The Epoch Times that no reason has been given for the sudden decision to deport the family.
“What we do know is there was a verbal discussion with the Romeikes, and instead of being told to come back in six or 12 months for a routine visit, they were told to come back in four weeks and to bring their passports with the purpose of self-deportation,” he said. “We don’t know why, or what level that came from.”
“We can speculate that it’s because they’re evangelical Christians, or it’s because they’re homeschoolers, or it’s because the German government wants this done and there’s some compliance with the Germans,” he suggested.
But at the end of the day, the fact is the family was told to return to immigration services and prepare to leave the country, Mr. Boden said.
“They arrived here lawfully. They’ve been here lawfully. They’ve complied with the law for 15 years,” Mr. Boden said. “They’ve been productive, contributing members of their community and they have two children who are American citizens. They’re just a delightful family, the type of family you or I would want in our neighborhood. They’re just quality people.”
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike (5th, 6th L) with their family in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Hannelore Romeike).
The deadline for the Romeikes’ deportation is Oct. 11. A petition has been started to allow them to remain in the United States.
“We want to stay here legally,” Mr. Romeike continued. “We came legally and that’s what we wanted to do and what we still want to do. We all have our work here. We are not dependent on the government. We pay our taxes. We just want to be left in peace.”
What were the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision to decline hearing the Romeike family’s case regarding their right to homeschool
School regularly, as required by the German education laws,” and warned that if they continued to homeschool, he would take legal action.
The Romeikes refused to comply and continued to homeschool their children, prompting the German authorities to impose fines on them. They were also threatened with the seizure of their children’s custody.
The situation escalated when the police were sent to their home to forcibly take their children to school. The Romeikes realized that their only option was to leave their country and seek asylum elsewhere.
In 2008, they applied for asylum in the United States with the assistance of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). They argued that they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs and their choice to homeschool.
After a long legal battle, the Romeikes were granted asylum by an immigration judge in 2010. The judge concluded that the German government’s treatment of the family was a violation of their fundamental rights to freedom of religion and education.
However, the story doesn’t end there. The United States government appealed the decision, arguing that the Romeikes did not meet the criteria for asylum because homeschooling is not a fundamental human right.
The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where it garnered significant attention and support from organizations and individuals who believe in the right to homeschool. In 2014, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, effectively ending the legal battle.
For the past 15 years, the Romeike family has built a life in the United States. They have become productive members of society and have contributed to their community. They have been grateful for the freedom and opportunities they found in their new country.
However, recently they received a notice from the United States government stating that they must leave the country. No reason was given, and the family is left with uncertainty and fear.
The Romeikes’ story highlights the challenges faced by families who choose to homeschool their children in countries where it is not widely accepted or supported. It raises questions about the limits of government authority and the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their children’s education.
While homeschooling is a controversial topic, it is important to recognize that parents have the right to choose the education that best aligns with their beliefs and values. As long as the education provided meets certain standards for academic achievement and well-being, parents should be able to make informed choices for their children.
The Romeike family’s battle for the right to homeschool is a reminder that freedom should be valued and protected. It is a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to pass on beliefs and values to the next generation should not be stifled or suppressed.
As their future in the United States hangs in the balance, the Romeike family deserves our support and solidarity. Their fight is not just for themselves but for all families who seek to exercise their right to choose the education that is best for their children.
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