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Members of Congress Support Romeikes in Letter to Holder

Members of Congress Support Romeikes in Letter to Holder

On Friday, May 24, U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman and 26 other members of Congress joined the ranks of Americans who are voicing their support for the Romeike family and urging Attorney General Holder to grant them asylum in America to freely homeschool their children. The Romeike family fled their home country of Germany and came to the U.S. in hopes that they would be able to homeschool their children—which is illegal in Germany—only to be denied by the Department of Justice.

“A decision to deny the Romeikes the opportunity to educate their children freely is a decision to abandon our commitment to freedom,” says Congressman Stutzman’s letter addressed to Holder. “Doing so would put America alongside those countries that believe children belong to the community or state.”

The letter comes on the heels of the recent decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati to side with U.S. officials and deny the family asylum. The court agreed with the Justice Department in saying that homeschoolers do not face persecution under Germany’s strict compulsory attendance laws.

Home School Legal Defense Association Chairman Michael Farris, who has been representing the family, says the decision of the three-judge panel is legally erroneous, and he is filing an appeal before the entire 15-member Sixth Circuit. “It’s refreshing to see that there are members of Congress who are willing to put their support behind this family during this trying time,” he said. “The Romeikes are doing the exact same thing the Pilgrims did hundreds of years ago, and they need to see there are still people in our government who care for this essential American ideal.”

In addition to defending the Romeike family in court, HSLDA also created a petition on the White House website that currently has over 120,000 signatures. The petition has gained support by political figures such as former Governor Mike Huckabee and former Senator Rick Santorum.

“As Americans, we have an obligation to stand with those who seek freedom,” Congressman Stutzman says in his letter. “The Romeike family should find a welcoming home in the United States.”

Congressman Stutzman was joined by: Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Luke Messer (R-IN), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Alan Nunnelee (R-MS), Stevan Pearce (R-NM), Joe Pitts (R-PA), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Bill Posey (R-FL), Phil Roe (R-TN), Todd Rokita (R-IN), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Steve Southerland (R-FL), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Steve Stockman (R-TX), Lee Terry (R-NE), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).

Courtesy HSLDA. Used with permission.

Home School Legal Defense Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Visit us online at www.HSLDA.org.



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