WHY WOULD THE OBAMA JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WANT A CHRISTIAN, HOMESCHOOLING FAMILY WHO FLED PERSECUTION TO BE DEPORTED?
by Chris Robertson, ©2013
(Apr. 9, 2013) — An important case is heading to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this April, the 23rd, which may affect the parental rights of Americans.
THE ROMEIKE FAMILY
In 2006 Mr. and Mrs. Romeike began to homeschool their children instead of sending them to their government-run school in Germany. Now, in 2013, having faced thousands of dollars in fines, the placement of their children in public school by armed police, and the possibility of losing custody of their children, Mr. and Mrs. Romeike and their children have fled their home country and are residing in the state of Tennessee.
The Romeikes followed proper immigration procedures and were granted legal asylum in the United States. They currently live in the Smokey Mountain area where they continue to homeschool in accordance with TN law…
…but this is not the end of the story.
The Department of Homeland Security challenged the Romeikes’ asylum, which was subsequently withdrawn. Facing deportation back to Germany, the Romeikes have taken their case to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A hearing has been set for April 23 (Case No. 12-3641, Uwe Romeike, et al v. Eric Holder, Jr.).
Attorney General Eric Holder is listed as respondent against the Romeike family.
HOW THIS MAY AFFECT PARENTAL RIGHTS OF AMERICANS
Mr. and Mrs. Romeike believe it is the right of the parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children. The German government maintains that no such right exists. However, this case is not taking place in Germany; it is taking place in the United States court system, under U.S. law.
This case will not be based on German principles of justice, but on American principles of liberty.
The U.S. government is arguing that the Romeikes are not being deprived of any fundamental right, such as could be recognized under the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Act. If this argument prevails, it could create a dangerous precedent for families in the United States… one which says that government has a greater right to raise the children of a country than do their own parents.
CONGRESS MUST RESPOND
The kind of persecution the Romeike family faces from Germany is not a unique situation. In May of 2009, the Tennessee House unanimously approved a letter in which they urged Germany to acknowledge basic parental rights and to end its oppressive policies against homeschoolers, (HR87). The state of Georgia did the same.
1.) Call your governor and representatives and bring this case to their attention. A recommitment to parental rights in the United States and strong support for the Romeikes’ asylum should be expressed by Congress.
2.) A petition has been started at www.WhiteHouse.gov. To sign the online petition you only need to register your name and email address, and your voice will be counted. (Search online for: Persecuted Homeschool Family White House Petition.)
Those in our federal government need to understand that any action on their part will not go unnoticed. Perhaps by this, any notion some might have of suppressing justice will be swayed.
A MESSAGE TO TENNESSEE
Four years ago Tennessee’s representatives had the courage to speak up for the liberty and freedom of people in another nation, (HR87). Now, when residents of Tennessee are in danger of being deported back to Germany (where they face exorbitant fines and even the risk of losing their children) will Tennessee utter a word in their defense? This is the time to speak up on behalf of the Romeikes and for the parental rights of all Americans.
REFERENCES
Report on the Romeike Case – Associated Press
http://bigstory.AP.org/article/german-home-school-parents-appeal-asylum-ruling/
Another German Homeschooler Who Was Taken From Her Family
http://www.WashingtonTimes.com/news/2007/feb/27/20070227-084730-5162r/
2009 Tennessee Resolution Calling on Germany to Recognize the Rights of Parents
Text of Resolution – http://www.Capitol.TN.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HR0087.pdf
Bill Info – http://wapp.Capitol.TN.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HR0087&GA=106
Legal Brief for the Romeike Family
http://www.HSLDA.org/hs/international/Germany/RomeikeBrief.pdf
U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act
(Section 208, Asylum; Section 242, Judicial review.)
http://www.USCIS.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=f3829c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD