Activists Begin 'National Fast' to Demand Approval of Immigration Reform in US

After months of activists and immigrants demanding measures that would allow the legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., everything seems to point to reform, which has stalled in Congress, being postponed until next year.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the House of Representatives will continue its activities in Washington after a week-long recess, and activists and immigrants continue to pressure them to approve immigration legislation that offers a way to legalize the status of at least 9 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.; however, the legislative calendar ends in 16 business days, and Republicans have said that such an accomplishment would be impossible with so little time.

Despite this, Univisión reported Tuesday that activists have told Republican congressmen, the main opponents of the immigration project approved by the Senate last June, they will continue their activities in support of immigration reform, and warned that if it's not approved there will be political "consequences" in the country.

Facing this tense scenario, union leader Eliseo Medina began fasting on Nov. 12 to raise public awareness of the relevance of immigration reform and, at the same time, to pressure Congress to approve reform before 2013 ends.

According to La Opinión, Eliseo, 67, explained that his actions were inspired by social activists like Martin Luther King Jr. and César Chávez.

According to the union leader, his intention is to raise awareness through non-violent actions to show how urgent the matter of immigration reform is.

"We hope to appeal to the conscience of the American people so they can understand what this fight is about, and to tell the Congress we can't wait any longer. We want to join forces with civil society to support the reform and apply moral pressure", said Medina, according to La Opinión.

The union leader, along with four other activists, will fast in front of the U.S. Capitol "for an undefined amount of time," joining a campaign with similar intentions. 

This isn't the first time a Latino political leader has put their own well being on the line to pressure Congress to pass immigration reform. Last Nov. 4, Samuel Rodríguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), began a 40-day fast in Sacramento, Calif. to demand Congress approve reform, as Sin Embargo reported.