Romeike Case: History and Timeline

Case Summary

When Uwe and Hannelore Romeike decided in 2006 that God was calling them to homeschool their five children, Germany responded swiftly by leveling fines that would eventually exceed the family’s income, forcibly removing the children from the home to take them to school, and threatening to remove the children from the home permanently.

So the Romeikes fled to America in 2008, where HSLDA helped them apply for asylum.

In January 2010, the Romeikes were granted asylum by Judge Lawrence O. Burman.

Two years later, in May 2012, their asylum was overturned by the US Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). After another two years of legal battles to reinstate their asylum, the US government finally granted the Romeikes “indefinite deferred action status” in March 2014.

This meant that the Romeikes could live legally in the US, obtain drivers’ licenses, work, rent, own property, and pay taxes. They have been operating legally under this status for 10 years.

However, in September 2023, they were verbally notified that they had four weeks to secure passports and begin self-deportation. The family had no prior warning, and was offered no explanation, other than that there had been a “change of orders.”

After the efforts of many people on the Romeike’s behalf, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) delayed their deportation for one year — to October 2024.

In October 2024, ICE staff met with the Romeike family and extended their permission to stay in the US for another year. This is consistent with prior decisions of ICE going back to 2012.

Sadly, the Romeike’s legal status remains unchanged. Until a permanent solution is achieved, we will continue to work with members of Congress and others to advocate on their behalf for a just and permanent solution, so that the family does not face this risk each year.