There are so many big things going on in the world, it’s hard to focus on a small-ish issue. But because of all that it means, I think this is something to pay attention to.
There’s a German family, the Romeike family, that I’ve written about several times. They came here seeking asylum 15 years ago, based on persecution in Germany. They were not allowed to homeschool there. This was based on a law from the late 1930s, during which time the Nazi regime did not tolerate any child being out of the control of their indoctrination. The law continues for reasons the German people will have to answer to. But the Romeikes report that the schools were changing their children in ways they didn’t like. The schools, by the way, while not still pro-Nazi, are atheist, and the family is evangelical Christian. They considered private schools, but those schools are required to use the same curriculum, and they found the environment there even worse. So the parents pulled the children out of school for their safety and best interests. But the state had other ideas. They threatened fines and imprisonment. Ultimately they would threaten to take the children from the parents. It was untenable, so the family sought asylum here, in 2008.
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| The Romeike family, homeschooling in Tennessee in 2010 photo from NY Times article March 1, 2010 |
In 2010 a US circuit judge granted their asylum, along with
a strong statement about parents having a right to make decisions regarding
education and religion for their own children. This was during the Obama
administration. Out of the blue (no apparent request from Germany), the DOJ insisted
on overturning the ruling and kicking this law-abiding family out of the
country.
I wrote about the family in 2011, and updated a couple of
times in 2013. The links are below. I hadn’t heard much in a long time. The
family was staying as long as appeals were making their way through the courts.
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association), their legal counsel, show on
their timeline that, in 2013, the 6th Circuit heard oral arguments and then didn’t
grant a rehearing. So there was an appeal to the US Supreme Court. Again, the
Court didn’t grant a rehearing. That final word came down March 2014. The very
next day DHS, under public pressure, decided to let Romeikes stay under order
of supervision and "indefinite deferred action status."
Although nothing changed on the Romeike’s part, the Biden
administration—the very ones determined to let anyone, criminal or not, flood
in at the southern border—now use their ICE discretion to pluck out this
family. In September the Romeikes were given four weeks to vacate the country, but
October 11 they were given a delay of one year.
Why target this family? They have been in no trouble during the 15 years they have lived here. They have supported themselves (i.e., no government aide; some of their court costs, I believe, have been helped with donations). They have been contributing community members. They have not violated any agreements. They aren’t terrorists or drug dealers. So, again, it is out of the blue that the administration decides to target this family—and the family has not been told the reason.
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| The Romeike family in 2008 when they came here, and a recent family photo. Photos are screenshots from their interview on the Glenn Beck program. |
What happens with a family over 15 years? They have two more children—born here as Americans, according to current law. (I believe they had five when they came here.) Their children have grown up. Two are married to American citizens, and one has an American-born citizen baby, just a month old.
The administration nevertheless wants the Romeike parents to
return to Germany, where they face both hefty fines and imprisonment. They have
no home there and no means to make a living—which means they will be imprisoned,
and the state will take custody of the minor children. The American-born
children can stay in the US, but without parents or family or means of support,
so that’s not going to happen. The married adults are expected to return to
Germany without spouses and children (or they can all immigrate and subject
themselves to German laws), and that’s not going to happen either. The minor
children, except the American-born ones, are expected to return to Germany and
submit themselves to state custody. Some of them may not even remember the language
or recall ever living in Germany.
In an interview with Glenn Beck, the parents aren’t sure
what to do. As law-abiding people, they are willing to leave the US if ordered.
But they are not willing to return to Germany and lose their freedom and their
family. They may be searching for another place to land, but at this point they
say they don’t know where to go.
Why is this a bigger issue than it appears? It is a
travesty. It is wrong. But it also shows the risk to all of us. The ruling
power goes out of its way to wield power against regular people—like us. This
appears to be persecution because of religious belief, possibly also simply the
assertion that we the people—not government—have certain inalienable rights,
which include the parental right and responsibility to direct the care and
upbringing of our own children.
As Lenin said, “Give me four years to teach the children and
the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” Tyrants want control over the
ideas being taught to children, to perpetuate their control over the next generations.
There’s a point I remember Jordan Peterson making (I don’t
have the reference right now) where he talks about a question people ask him, about
what a person should say to a Nazi official who asks if you’re hiding Jews in
your home. Do you lie, when telling the truth would lead to their death? He
says a better question is, how many times did you—and the rest of the community—fail
to tell the truth or speak up prior to the Nazis coming to your door to find
the Jews you have to hide? Why did you let it get to this point?
So, with this one family’s case, is there something we can
do? Yes, some small things:
·
Contact your representative to support H.R.
5423, a bill proposed in September to give relief to the Romeike family.
(Info about the bill here.)
·
We’re past an October 11 deadline, but still,
there is a petition at HSLDA where
you can sign your name in support of the Romeike family. (Pressure from the
public is what led the Obama administration to give them “indefinitely deferred
action status” back in 2014.)
·
Donate, if you’re able, to the defense fund for the Romeike family
at HSLDA.
·
Let your friends know about this family. Let it
be part of your conversation about school board races and parental rights.
While there are people of both parties who don’t care much about homeschooling,
only one side's administration is persecuting them.
Maybe, if we do whatever we feel capable of doing in a small
issue like this—along with a whole lot of other people stepping up and speaking
up—maybe the bigger issues will also get solved. Whether that outcome happens or
not, at least we will have placed ourselves on the side of good and right.
Where I’ve
Written about the Romeike Family
·
Parental Rights, October 26, 2011
·
The Parental Right to Educate, March 22, 2013
·
You Might Be Living Under Tyranny If... Part II,
May 17, 2013
Other Resources
·
“Judge Grants Asylum to German Home Schoolers,”
New York Times, March 1, 2010.
·
“Meet One Family Biden Wants to Deport,” Glenn
Beck Special, episode 309, October 4, 2023. (This may be behind a paywall; I wasn't able to also find it on YouTube.)
·
“Romeike Case: History and Timeline,” HSLDA,
September 18, 2023.
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