Immigration, asylum, and home schooling

[takoma]

There is an interesting case of a German family living in Tennessee and seeking asylum because they could not home-school their kids in Germany (http://abcnews.go.com/US/home-schooling-german-family-fights-deportation/story?id=18842383#.UXp8DW9BnjJ). You can see two opposite views of the case at http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/343321/romeikes-fight-individual-liberty-jillian-kay-melchior and http://www.patheos.com/blogs/lovejoyfeminism/2013/04/why-hslda-is-wrong-about-romeike-v-holder.html, for example.

I'm split on the issue I disagree with their religious views, but sympathize with their freedom to have those views. I don't think it's fair to blame the Obama administration for the fact that career people in the Department of Justice are trying to carry out the law, but, on the other hand, the administration has declared a policy of putting certain types of immigration cases on the back burner, yet they are pursuing this case.

My position is that present law does not support their request for asylum, but I would like to see the law reformed so that people can come here simply because they prefer our laws to those of their homeland, provided they are otherwise qualified. However, a hearing was held a few days ago, and the decision can't be based on what I would like the law to say. So given the present legal situation, what do you think the court should decide?