Trace and Lydia: Can She Become a Citizen Now?

[AstridM]

13 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

She really is stupid. Complaining about getting bigger and more tired, yet hopping on a cross-country flight at 34+ weeks pregnant for a frivolous "girls' trip." I wonder if she told her doctors. 🙄

Does she even have health insurance?

[Absolom]

I've known many women, perhaps most I've known, who would not go more than an hour drive away from their OB or hospital of choice at 34 weeks.  My daughter would not go to Orange County from NE of Los Angeles past 32 weeks because traffic could cause a problem with her getting back to her home or hospital where her doctor practiced.  Her doctor would never have agreed to flying halfway across the country with a normal pregnancy much less a problem one at 34 weeks.  I delivered our third at 34 weeks when the water broke early.  There is absolutely no way I would have been tolerant of that happening mid-flight anywhere.  

Trace and Lydia have gone beyond what most of the fundies we watch have done in the line of risking the life of their fetus.  I don't know if they don't have the ability to comprehend the problem, believe problems can't touch them, or are just selfish and will do whatever they want no matter what they're told.  

[Heathen]

4 hours ago, Absolom said:

Trace and Lydia have gone beyond what most of the fundies we watch have done in the line of risking the life of their fetus.  I don't know if they don't have the ability to comprehend the problem, believe problems can't touch them, or are just selfish and will do whatever they want no matter what they're told.  

All of the above? 

[65mickey]

5 hours ago, AstridM said:

Does she even have health insurance?

They either have insurance through the Afordable Care Act or Medicaid or the Child Health Insurance Program.  These large hospitals do not trade  their services for a tree trimming job. But the Bates wil not own up to receiving govt. health care or coverage through the Affordable Healthe Care Act. But rest assured. They are not pumping out babies year after year with no health insurance.  All of them to go to a hospital. To my knowledge none of them have had home births.

[Salacious Kitty]

They could very well have Scamaritan or another CHRISTIAN cost sharing plan. 

[3 is enough]

Is it possible that Lydia is still insured under her parents’ plan? She isn’t 26 yet. 
I don’t know if married kids don’t qualify as dependents. Also no idea what her father does for a living or if he even has insurance.

I do wonder if they just think everything will be ok because Jesus. Aside from miscarriages and Kelton’s mother and Addalee’s issues they have been very fortunate to have healthy babies which is amazing given the sheer numbers. 
 

[GeeGolly]

33 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

Is it possible that Lydia is still insured under her parents’ plan? She isn’t 26 yet. 
I don’t know if married kids don’t qualify as dependents. Also no idea what her father does for a living or if he even has insurance.

I do wonder if they just think everything will be ok because Jesus. Aside from miscarriages and Kelton’s mother and Addalee’s issues they have been very fortunate to have healthy babies which is amazing given the sheer numbers. 
 

Yet Erin, Carlin and Josie are high risk and receive specialized treatment during their pregnancies.

[Salacious Kitty]

2 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

Yet Erin, Carlin and Josie are high risk and receive specialized treatment during their pregnancies.

And Tori. Alyssa is also considered high risk after her heart surgery.

[Heathen]

Kelly received specialized treatment during her later pregnancies -- the progesterone that allowed her to maintain pregnancies. "Gawd's will" only applies if it's something they want, of course. 

I'd be surprised if Uwe and Hannelore "we were persecuted in Germany!!!" Romeike carry that evil American health insurance. Gawd will provide. 

[3 is enough]

1 hour ago, GeeGolly said:

Yet Erin, Carlin and Josie are high risk and receive specialized treatment during their pregnancies.

This is true. Given that all of the girls except Alyssa have the clotting issue it baffles me that they are all so willing to do it again and again and again. 
If I had those issues I would have been grateful to have had healthy babies and would not have risked it again. I do wonder how they would react if things went bad.

[65mickey]

And Alyssa and Katie claim that they are still nauseous and vomiting up until the day they give birth. I can't think of anything worse. So I have no idea why Alyssa keeps poppng out kids.

Speaking of giving birth, I think today is the day that Lydia is being induced. 

[ginger90]

[Salacious Kitty]

Yup. They said in their latest video that Lydia would be induced today.

[AstridM]

Add her to the list of dumbasses who don’t know how/why hashtags should be used. 

[3 is enough]

Reality is going to hit hard. Despite being surrounded by nieces and nephews I really don’t think these two have the slightest clue about having a newborn. 
That said, it’s 7pm in Knoxville and not a peep. I hope every thing is ok. If the little guy has any issues they will not handle it well I think.

[Salacious Kitty]

5 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

Reality is going to hit hard. Despite being surrounded by nieces and nephews I really don’t think these two have the slightest clue about having a newborn. 
That said, it’s 7pm in Knoxville and not a peep. I hope every thing is ok. If the little guy has any issues they will not handle it well I think.

They may be waiting to put it in a video for their weekly release. Josie is filming. 

[RebeccatheWriter]

20 hours ago, 3 is enough said:

Reality is going to hit hard. Despite being surrounded by nieces and nephews I really don’t think these two have the slightest clue about having a newborn. 
That said, it’s 7pm in Knoxville and not a peep. I hope every thing is ok. If the little guy has any issues they will not handle it well I think.

Sometimes with induction at 37-38 weeks it can take quite a while. A friend of mine was induced at that stage and it was almost 48 hours before that kid was born. Given some of the concerns in terms of the baby's health, I don't think they would want her to labor that long though.

It could be that they have made a deal with People or one of those types of publications to do a story (reprint a press release) and a picture or two.

I tend to think that over complications, as the Bates family tends to go for the dramatic and would be posting away about praying for the baby.  

[Salacious Kitty]

Agree that they are withholding information for a payday, be it People (unlikely) or their vlog. We know that Josie was there to film everything. 

The only other thing that mY be keeping them quiet are complications with Ryker. Hopefully not. 

[65mickey]

I don't think this is unusual. They usually have a deal with some magazine maybe US Weekly to release the first photos. They are holding out for the payday. 

[Salacious Kitty]

Trace posted an update. Ryker was born on the 12th. No additional information given other than to say they're doing well. Stay tuned for the monetized video, y'all! 

[ginger90]

[Heathen]

[65mickey]

All of that carrying on about how small he was and possible problems and the need to induce early. Thankfully he seems to have a pretty good weight and length. 

[Heathen]

1 hour ago, 65mickey said:

All of that carrying on about how small he was and possible problems and the need to induce early. Thankfully he seems to have a pretty good weight and length. 

Performative birthing. 

[andromeda331]

I still picture Rykers Island every time I see the name.

[Spazamanaz]

10 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

I still picture Rykers Island every time I see the name.

Now I will too. Lol

[Salacious Kitty]

Kelly posted pics of many Bateses trooping through Lydia's room to hold the baby. The good news is that Tori isn't pregnant. 

[GeeGolly]

1 hour ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Kelly posted pics of many Bateses trooping through Lydia's room to hold the baby. The good news is that Tori isn't pregnant. 

I saw that. Germ after germ, after germ. I also noticed Tori looked very slim. Maybe Janie told her about birth control like she told Alyssa. Not that Alyssa listened.

[AstridM]

Just now, GeeGolly said:

I saw that. Germ after germ, after germ. I also noticed Tori looked very slim. Maybe Janie told her about birth control like she told Alyssa. Not that Alyssa listened.

Hello RSV.

[ginger90]

New YouTube video. Believe it or not, it’s not clickbait.

 

 

Screenshot:

[Tdoc72]

Does this make Ryker an anchor baby?

[AstridM]

9 minutes ago, Tdoc72 said:

Does this make Ryker an anchor baby?

YES

[Salacious Kitty]

Well well well, they still yet may be deported. Including Lydia. 

Stay tuned...

[RebeccatheWriter]

Citizenship is a difficult issue for me due to personal experience of family and friends. I am very much a person who believes in asylum in many of the situations that are going on worldwide, but especially to the south of the United States. I volunteer and donate to support paths to citizenship and reunification of families. 

That said, I'm not sure that Germany requiring children to attend school falls into the category of needing to seek asylum. Trace's interpretation and blatant politicization of the facts as told by Lydia's family was disturbing to me, as was his ignoring the plights of so many others without her family's resources and clout. He wants people to pray for and support Lydia's family and yet he and his family would not cross the street to help others who are not white or from so-called desirable countries. 

[AstridM]

8 minutes ago, RebeccatheWriter said:

That said, I'm not sure that Germany requiring children to attend school falls into the category of needing to seek asylum.

It absolutely does not. 

[Heathen]

I won't watch the "persecuted" Bates-Romeikes' video. Could someone who's taken one for the team fill me in? 

Edited September 17, 2023 by Heathen

[Salacious Kitty]

7 minutes ago, Heathen said:

I won't watch the "persecuted' Bates-Romeikes' video. Could someone who's taken one for the team fill me in? 

Trace basically told the Romeike's immigration story. He reiterated that Germany wouldn't allow them to homeschool, case went to the Supreme Court, who refused to hear it. He couldn't articulate what has changed to make deportation possibly imminent. But he says if Lydia goes, he's going with her. 

Edited September 17, 2023 by Salacious Kitty

[Heathen]

1 minute ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Trace basically told the Romeike's immigration story. He reiterated that Germany wouldn't allow them to homeschool, case went to the Supreme Court, who refused to hear it. He couldn't articulate what has changed to make deportation possibly imminent. 

Probably nothing. I doubt their deportation is even a twinkle in someone's eye. It's just performative clickbait bullshit. 

 

[BitterApple]

1 hour ago, RebeccatheWriter said:

Trace's interpretation and blatant politicization of the facts as told by Lydia's family was disturbing to me, as was his ignoring the plights of so many others without her family's resources and clout. 

I was about to say, if worse comes to worst, Lydia's family moves back to a rich European country that has great schools, low crime and affordable health care. It's not like they're being shipped off to Somalia or Afghanistan. 🙄

[3 is enough]

Wouldn’t Lydia being married to a US citizen qualify her for some sort of visa?

There are so many stories of people who marry to stay in the country but this is a legitimate marriage. 

We came to the US when my husband was transferred by his company. The company lawyers got him an L1 visa and helped us with our green card applications.  We applied for citizenship a year before the green cards were due to be renewed. My two oldest kids were naturalized when their father was, my youngest was born in the US and he automatically qualified for Canadian citizenship through me.

But it sounds like Lydia’s family never followed up and hoped that they would continue to fly under the radar.

Edited September 17, 2023 by 3 is enough

[Salacious Kitty]

Trace said that it didn't matter that Lydia married a US citizen. She could still be deported. They were trying to get her a green card, he didn't explain why she didn't have one. 

[RebeccatheWriter]

52 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

Wouldn’t Lydia being married to a US citizen qualify her for some sort of visa?

There are so many stories of people who marry to stay in the country but this is a legitimate marriage. 

We came to the US when my husband was transferred by his company. The company lawyers got him an L1 visa and helped us with our green card applications.  We applied for citizenship a year before the green cards were due to be renewed. My two oldest kids were naturalized when their father was, my youngest was born in the US and he automatically qualified for Canadian citizenship through me.

But it sounds like Lydia’s family never followed up and hoped that they would continue to fly under the radar.

1. Marrying a US citizen isn't an automatic in for immigration. Additionally, her parents' lawsuit that they wanted to be heard by the Supreme Court was filed as a family. She was still part of that and had to be removed. 

2. Your husband came over with a job. Lydia's family did not. They came over claiming to be refugees. They did not go through the proper channels and in some cases those channels don't exist. Lydia's father and mother came here saying please take us in because we want to homeschool our children. They had no company sponsoring them or providing a visa. 

3. Lydia's family did more in terms of interviews on conservative talk shows than actually attempting to get citizenship. 

1 hour ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Trace basically told the Romeike's immigration story. He reiterated that Germany wouldn't allow them to homeschool, case went to the Supreme Court, who refused to hear it. He couldn't articulate what has changed to make deportation possibly imminent. But he says if Lydia goes, he's going with her. 

Lydia and her family have to file for work visas, driving privileges, etc. every year because of their deferred status. Apparently, on the most recent annual visit, the officials questioned them about their passports, as they are going to have to "self-deport." Trace claimed that the annual visit was the norm but this time they were told they had to come back in a few months instead. 

For those who don't know, when their claim of asylum was denied, they appealed that decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals. That board also denied it and the courts sided against the family. They tried to take it to the Supreme Court but it was not heard. Since then they are what is referred to as deferred status, which means they are to be supervised (yearly check ins). 

The fact that the children are growing up and now two are married, one (Lydia) just had a baby, and the youngest two children were born in the US, etc., complicates things. Typically those on deferred status are aware their stay is temporary and are encouraged not to make links to the US permanently. They are clearly making such links. 

Additionally, the family has made videos, drummed up support at churches, and made the rounds on conservative talk shows to get themselves heard. They make claims that the US (under Obama) wanted to outlaw homeschooling too. They have a website and petition asking people to sign it and rise up against Obama who wouldn't answer questions about the family. I doubt he had the time to care who they were. They had four years under Trump to try to get something done but I don't see anything online about that. 

 

Edited September 17, 2023 by RebeccatheWriter

[Notabug]

46 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Trace said that it didn't matter that Lydia married a US citizen. She could still be deported. They were trying to get her a green card, he didn't explain why she didn't have one. 

Getting a green card, even if you're married to a US citizen is still a pretty complicated process and not automatic.  Giving birth to a child in the US who is automatically a citizen will probably move things along.  Still can easily take years, even if the situation is uncomplicated.

In the case of Lydia's family, seeking asylum because they cannot homeschool them in Germany was always very shaky ground and I do think they figured they'd get lost in the shuffle with all of the other asylum seekers and manage to slip in the side door.  They' also likely feel that since they are white Christians, they deserve preferential treatment.

The best way to get legal residence in the US is to have education and training in a profession that is in demand and have an employer lined up who can vouch that the immigrant is gainfully employed by them.

Edited September 17, 2023 by Notabug

[Heathen]

1 hour ago, BitterApple said:

I was about to say, if worse comes to worst, Lydia's family moves back to a rich European country that has great schools, low crime and affordable health care. It's not like they're being shipped off to Somalia or Afghanistan. 🙄

They don't want those great schools! People around the world want their children to get great educations, but not these "persecuted" morons. As far as low crime and affordable heathcare, I'm sure they think of those things as heathen socialism, or some such nonsense. 

[3 is enough]

1 hour ago, Notabug said:

The best way to get legal residence in the US is to have education and training in a profession that is in demand and have an employer lined up who can vouch that the immigrant is gainfully employed by them.

This was the case for my husband. He had a PhD in Chemistry and multiple patents in his industry. Still, the stack of paperwork he had to submit for an inter-company transfer was huge. The company basically had to prove that he was not taking a job away from an American citizen. I was not allowed to work until we got our green cards. 

I knew that Lydia’s family came to the US claiming asylum, but did they really think the Supreme Court would take their case? Talk about an inflated sense of self-worth. 
I checked and private Christian schools do exist in Germany though there are not as common as they are here. If they didn’t want to pay or there wasn’t a private school nearby that is hardly a reason to claim asylum.

1 hour ago, Heathen said:

Edited September 17, 2023 by 3 is enough

[RebeccatheWriter]

1 hour ago, 3 is enough said:

---snip---
I knew that Lydia’s family came to the US claiming asylum, but did they really think the Supreme Court would take their case? Talk about an inflated sense of self-worth. 
I checked and private Christian schools do exist in Germany though there are not as common as they are here. If they didn’t want to pay or there wasn’t a private school nearby that is hardly a reason to claim asylum.

Part of me wonders if they came from an area with a large immigrant population and that was their real issue with the schools.

Apparently, while they were homeschooling Lydia and her brother, they were fined and refused to pay the fine. They then lost custody of their children for a time period until...I'm guessing they agreed to send them to school and then took off for the US. 

There used to be a video of them telling the story to some church. I can't remember where I saw it.

They got support for a while (still?) from a US based homeschooling organization who apparently paid for the lawsuit and appeals in its efforts to ensure homeschooling would remain legal in the US.

I will share the link to a propaganda video that was produced about the family.
https://hslda.org/post/romeike-vs-germany 

[GeeGolly]

Did they ever considering the request for them to return to the immigration office in a few months is a good sign? I mean really, the anti immigration camp aren't anti German folks. It seems to me the Romeikes have good reason to think they'll be granted a track to permanent citizenship by some good ole boy pulling some strings.

[65mickey]

10 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

He couldn't articulate

You got that right!  Please tell me how homeschooling is "serving the Lord."  I am so thankful that the lord didn't speak to me and tell me to homeschool my children.

Kelly needs to have a review of English grammar and sentence structure with Trace. Obviously her original lesson didn't penetrate his thick skull. 

[RebeccatheWriter]

2 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

Did they ever considering the request for them to return to the immigration office in a few months is a good sign? I mean really, the anti immigration camp aren't anti German folks. It seems to me the Romeikes have good reason to think they'll be granted a track to permanent citizenship by some good ole boy pulling some strings.

From the perspective of my friend whose niece is going through the asylum process and was denied - the request to return in a month or two is a really bad sign. If they were being moved through on a path to citizenship, the checks/supervision would be lowered to every 18 months or 24 months. 

A few things on that:

1. Does Mr. Romeike work a job or is he like the Bates and Duggars in that he is self-employed?

Per the Bates Wiki, Mr. Romeike works teaching piano lessons, tuning pianos, and playing piano at special events. He is also the pianist at his church, First Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. 

2. It would appear that by age, none of the German-born children are under 18. Therefore, one can assume they are done with homeschooling. What is their reasoning for continued claims of asylum because the two born in the US wouldn't be on that original claim?  

Edited September 17, 2023 by RebeccatheWriter
Edited to answer my own question.

[3 is enough]

So it turns out that the part of Germany that the Romeikes called home was in the Black Forest on the Swiss border. Interestingly it is also one of the regions of the country with the highest percentage of migrant population (28%). 
I have to wonder if that factored into their desire to homeschool and to ultimately leave the country?

Also wonder if Trace and Lydia were a bit lax about applying for her marriage visa or if her family asked them to delay because they were afraid filing the application would put them back in the spotlight? Given their reluctance to get proper contractor licenses it would not surprise me if Trace thought that immigration documents did not apply to them either.

ETA: It doesn’t make sense when they could have just moved to another EU country which allows homeschooling. There would have been no hurdles or pesky immigration issues. But they wanted to come to the US. Mr Romeike is a piano tuner and gives music lessons. Hardly the skills that would push him up in the immigration line. But if you claim asylum you can skip the line.  Too bad it is the flimsiest claim for asylum. 🙄

 

Edited September 17, 2023 by 3 is enough