Press Releases
Washington, D.C. — Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, along with U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and 30 of his House colleagues, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting that asylum status is granted to the Romeike family. In early September, the Biden Administration notified the Romeike family that they have 4 weeks to apply for German passports, or face deportation.
“To force this refugee family to suddenly return to Germany, with a government that once forcibly removed their children from their home simply for observing their deeply held religious beliefs, is immoral and indefensible,” the members wrote. “We, the undersigned members of Congress, respectfully ask that you use this power given to you by Congress to grant the Romeike family asylum.”
Read the full letter text here.
Background:
Congressman Webster, the father of homeschooling in Florida and champion nationwide, was first made aware of the Romeike family’s case more than a decade ago when they sought asylum in the United States from Germany due to the German government’s ban on homeschooling. In 2013, just days after a letter request from Congressman Webster, then-Attorney General Eric Holder granted the Romeikes “indefinitely deferred action status,” enabling them to live and work in the United States. However, the Romeike family is facing the possibility of deportation to Germany from the Biden Administration even as they work to gain full green card status.
Co-signers of the letter include Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Bill Posey (R-FL), Michael Guest (R-MS), Randy Weber (R-TX), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Barry Moore (R-AL), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Eric A. Rick Crawford (R-AR), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Richard Hudson (R-NC), John Rose (R-TN), Mark Green, M.D. (R-TN), Mike Ezell (R-MS), David Kustoff (R-TN), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (R-TN), and James R. Baird (R-IN).
“To force this refugee family to suddenly return to Germany, with a government that once forcibly removed their children from their home simply for observing their deeply held religious beliefs, is immoral and indefensible,” the members wrote. “We, the undersigned members of Congress, respectfully ask that you use this power given to you by Congress to grant the Romeike family asylum.”
Read the full letter text here.
Background:
Congressman Webster, the father of homeschooling in Florida and champion nationwide, was first made aware of the Romeike family’s case more than a decade ago when they sought asylum in the United States from Germany due to the German government’s ban on homeschooling. In 2013, just days after a letter request from Congressman Webster, then-Attorney General Eric Holder granted the Romeikes “indefinitely deferred action status,” enabling them to live and work in the United States. However, the Romeike family is facing the possibility of deportation to Germany from the Biden Administration even as they work to gain full green card status.
Co-signers of the letter include Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Bill Posey (R-FL), Michael Guest (R-MS), Randy Weber (R-TX), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Barry Moore (R-AL), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Eric A. Rick Crawford (R-AR), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Richard Hudson (R-NC), John Rose (R-TN), Mark Green, M.D. (R-TN), Mike Ezell (R-MS), David Kustoff (R-TN), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (R-TN), and James R. Baird (R-IN).
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