Health Impact News Editor Comments:

On Monday the sober news that the Supreme Court was not going to take up the German homeschool family case brought cries of anger all across the Internet. The Romeike family had originally been granted asylum in the United States when German authorities had threatened to seize their children for simply homeschooling them.

But last year, for some reason the Obama administration decided to challenge the asylum and seek to deport this homeschooling family back to Germany. Health Impact News has covered this story and you can read the history and updates here.

As of Monday, it seemed like the hope of keeping the Romeike family here in the U.S. was gone. But in a sudden reversal that was never expected, the Homeland Security department contacted Home School Legal Defense (HSLDA) and informed them that they were not going to pursue having the Romeikes deported.

This case drew national attention and it is possible that in an election year this became too hot of an issue for the Obama administration.

We have HSLDA to thank for keeping pressure on the government’s attacks on homeschoolers. Earlier this year HSLDA opposed the U.S. Department of Education’s attempt to collect data from homeschoolers who move from one state to another. See: HSLDA to U.S. Department of Education: Leave Homeschoolers Alone!

Health Impact News covers homeschooling freedom news, as this is the primary means by which most families still maintain their rights to health freedom issues as well, exercising their rights to make their own decisions in health matters, such as the use of drugs and vaccine products. Pharmaceutical companies see children as a large market for their products, especially vaccines, and use the public education system as the means to distribute these products. As a result, more families are choosing to homeschool than ever before, decreasing the market for pharmaceutical companies among children.

DHS Tells Romeike Family “You Can Stay”

by HSLDA

The Department of Homeland Security verbally informed Home School Legal Defense Association that the Romeike family is being granted indefinite deferred action status. The Department told HSLDA that this meant the order of removal would not be acted on and that the Romeikes could stay.

HSLDA Chairman Michael Farris was thrilled.

“This is an incredible victory that I can only credit to Almighty God. I also want to thank those who spoke up on this issue—including that long ago White House petition. We believe that the public outcry made a huge impact. What an amazing turnaround—in just 24 hours,” he said.

(Monday), the Supreme Court issued a denial of the Romeike family’s petition for certiorari, sparking an immediate and unprecedented reaction. Fox News told HSLDA that they recorded 1 million page views of the Romeikes’ story in 24 hours—an all-time high. Although many were not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision, it seemed that this was the last hope for the family to avoid being sent back to Germany where they would undoubtedly be persecuted for homeschooling their children.

Uwe Romeike said he is extremely grateful for the support and welcome he has received from America.

“We are happy to have indefinite status even though we won’t be able to get American citizenship any time soon. As long as we can live at peace here, we are happy. We have always been ready to go wherever the Lord would lead us—and I know my citizenship isn’t really on earth. This has always been about our children. I wouldn’t have minded staying in Germany if the mistreatment targeted only me—but our whole family was targeted when German authorities would not tolerate our decision to teach our children—that is what brought us here,” he said.

“Our entire family is deeply grateful for all the support of our friends and fellow homeschoolers and especially HSLDA. I thank God for his hand of blessing and protection over our family. We thank the American government for allowing us to stay here and to peacefully homeschool our children—it’s all we ever wanted.”

Escaping Oppression

HSLDA Director of International Affairs Mike Donnelly pointed out that the only reason the Romeikes had to come to America was because of Germany’s repressive policy towards homeschoolers.

“Germany’s persecution of homeschooling parents continues and is one reason, I suspect, that DHS was willing to grant the family indefinite status,” Donnelly said. “How could our country send this loving peaceful family back to be crushed by outrageous fines, criminal prosecution, and the loss of their children? Today Germany is holding another family prisoner only because they wanted to leave to go to France to homeschool their children. How could we send the Romeikes back to be treated like that?”

Donnelly continued, “HSLDA is determined to continue working in support of beleaguered homeschooling families in Germany and other countries. The right of parents to decide how their children should be educated is a fundamental human right. The United States got it right in this case, and we call on Germany to change its policy so that parents in Germany can homeschool their children in peace.”

Farris said there is no way he would have let the family go back to Germany.

“When we lost at the Sixth Circuit, I told Uwe that he would go back to Germany over my dead body. I’m glad that wasn’t necessary! This is a courageous family and one that deserves to stay here. They are modern day Pilgrims.”

Read the Full Story Here.