Evangelical Christian family begs Biden administration to stop their deportation back to Germany where it's illegal to homeschool their kids - while MILLIONS pour across open US border
- Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled Germany in 2008 after being fined $9,000
- Lawyers representing the family of seven say they have a right to stay
- The Supreme Court previously revoked the Romeikes' asylum status in 2014
A Christian family is begging the Biden administration to intervene in their upcoming deportation after living in the US for 15 years seeking asylum from persecution in Germany.
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled Germany in 2008 after being threatened with prosecution for homeschooling their five children.
Homeschooling in Germany is only allowed in very limited circumstances, and the family was facing a $9,000 fine, so they moved to East Tennessee and filed for asylum.
Authorities denied their claim in 2013, with the family attempting to appeal the decision after the Obama administration challenged the initial ruling that was approved. They do not have citizenship in the US.
They have been able to live in the US for the last ten years under an 'indefinite deferred action status', but were told earlier this month they must return to Germany.
Their bid comes as millions of asylum seekers are pouring into the US near the Texas border.
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled Germany in 2008 after being threatened with prosecution for homeschooling their five children. They had a further two children after moving to the US
In their initial argument, the family claimed that 'God was calling them to homeschool their five children', claiming that the 'anti-Christian' message in German schools was also a factor.
The couple are now begging the Biden administration to intervene in the decision after they were told to obtain German passports on September 6.
During a routine check-in, the family were told their deferred status had been revoked and were given four weeks to apply for German passports.
Speaking to Fox and Friends, Uwe said: 'They did not tell us anything. We don't really know why. We wonder ourselves because we can't understand.'
His wife added that the 'laws haven't changed' in Germany so they would still face 'the same persecution.
The family was reportedly not giving any prior warning or explanation, other than there had been a 'change of orders.'
In a legal brief in 2014, the Justice Department wrote: '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.'
Kevin Boden, an attorney representing the family, said: 'They found that the Romeike family did have a well-founded fear of persecution based on their participation in a particular social category, that being homeschoolers.
The couple are now begging the Biden administration to intervene in the decision, after they were told to obtain German passports on September 6
The family were reportedly not giving any prior warning or explanation, other than there had been a 'change of orders'
During a routine check-in the family were told that their deferred status had been revoked and were given four weeks to apply for German passports
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) said in a statement: 'In the 10 years that the Romeikes have lived peacefully in the United States, they've built a second life'
'The Obama administration appealed that to the Board of Immigration Appeals. That appeal court agreed with them, as did the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court denied it….
'We think this is, in fact, an asylum case. We do think they have a well-founded fear as we testified.
Kevin Boden, an attorney representing the family, said that they entered the country legally and have a right to stay
'I can tell you today, I talked to families today that have fear in Germany and the fight there, the persecution there, is very real today as it was 15 years ago.'
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) said in a statement: 'In the 10 years that the Romeikes have lived peacefully in the United States, they've built a second life.
'They have two children who are American citizens, and two other children who married American citizens (one of these couples recently welcomed their first child).
'Deportation to Germany will fracture these families, while exposing the Romeikes to renewed persecution in Germany, where homeschooling is still illegal in almost every case.
'But there is still hope. The United States executive branch intervened once before to grant the Romeikes a respite, and it has the power to do it again.'
The family's plea for help comes as record-breaking numbers of migrants from Latin America, Africa and beyond are crossing the US to Mexico border by foot and train
After moving to the US the couple had two more children, Sarah, 12, and Rebecca, 10, who were born in America
Officials have long said that the influx of migrants crossing the border illegally is directly linked to multi-billion dollar human trafficking schemes run by the notoriously violent Mexican drug cartels
Around two million migrants are thought to have crossed the US southern border in 2023 with many citing Biden's lax policies as a reason
After moving to the US, the couple had two more children, Sarah, 12, and Rebecca, 10, who were born in America.
Their other five children, Daniel, 26, Lydia, 25, Joshua, 23, Christian, 21, and Damaris, 18, were born in Germany, but are facing deportation.
Daniel and Lydia both married American citizens, with the entire family previously living in Bissingen, Baden-Württemberg.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Department of Homeland Security, which di not respond in time for this report.
The family's plea for help comes as record-breaking numbers of migrants from Latin America, Africa and beyond are crossing the US to Mexico border by foot and train.
In Eagle Pass, Texas, the city's Democratic mayor has declared a state of emergency where last week it's thought that 100,000 people waded through the Rio Grande.
A police officer in Eagle Pass told DailyMail.com: 'We have a crisis. I don't care what the federal government says.'
Officials have long said that the influx of migrants crossing the border illegally is directly linked to multi-billion dollar human trafficking schemes run by the notoriously violent Mexican drug cartels.
Around two million migrants are thought to have crossed the US southern border in 2023, with many citing Biden's lax policies as a reason. Another 500,000 could cross by the end of the year.
Recently, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that 800 more military service men and women would be sent to the border to aid the crisis joining the more than 2,500 National Guardsman who are already present.
