Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal From German Home-Schooling Family

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a German family seeking asylum in the United States because their home country does not allow home-schooling.

The justices rejected an appeal from Uwe and Hannelore Romeike, who say the German government is persecuting them because they want to raise their children in accordance with their Christian beliefs and home-school their children.

Uwe and Hannelore Romeike, center middle, and their six children stand with Michael Farris and other members of their legal team (Image source: Home School Legal Defense Association)

"While we are disappointed, the court’s decision in no way changes our commitment to fight for the Romeikes and home-schooling freedom," the Home School Legal Defense Association, which has been representing the family, said in a statement. "The court’s decision is not a decision on the merits of the case—however, it was the last judicial hope for the family."

The Romeike family moved to Morristown, Tenn., in 2008 after facing fines and threats for refusing to send their children to a state-approved school, as required by Germany's compulsory attendance law. They believe that if they go back to Germany and continue to home-school, the state will take custody of their children. They claim Germany's laws violate international human rights standards.

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that claim claim last year. The court found that U.S. law does not grant asylum to "every victim of unfair treatment."

“The United States has not opened its doors to every victim of unfair treatment, even treatment that our laws do not allow,” the court's ruling said.

The family has continued to fight to stay in the United States with their children, and the children have expressed their desire to stay as well. One of the Romeike children told Glenn Beck during an interview last April that "this is home" now.

The HSLDA says it is already working with "supportive members of Congress to introduce legislation that could help the Romeikes and others who flee persecution."

The organization has also made a video about the family's story:

Programming note: What's next for the Romeike family? TheBlaze's Billy Hallowell and Amy Holmes will join Andrew Wilkow Tuesday night to discuss this story and more on Wilkow!​.