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With little notice from the media until now, a group of immigrant rights activists has been quietly fasting on the National Mall in Washington DC since November 12th. Calling the immigration issue a moral crisis, the group called ‘Fast for Families’ hopes to pressure Republican leadership to support immigration reform bill S.744 which cleared the Senate in late June.

Major religious organizations from African American Clergy to Catholic nuns have stood in support of the movement to help the 11 million undocumented people in the US get legal recognition. Solidarity fasts have also been springing up around the nation.

On Friday Vice President Joe Biden showed up to support the group despite the fact that the Obama Administration has deported more people than any other Presidency.

The Immigration Reform bill S.744 which Republicans are so reluctant to pass would hardly be an easy path to citizenship for those who are undocumented. Only those who arrived in the US before 2011 could qualify to apply for provisional temporary status for a $500 fee. While this temporary status would allow a person to work legally and travel outside the country, it would need to be renewed every six years. Permanent legal status would only be considered after ten years and a $1,000 fee. The bill would also put in place a mandatory e-verify system for employers and severely heighten border security.

GUEST: John Gehring, Catholic Program Director at Faith in Public Life – he fasted in solidarity with the fasters last week.

Visit www.fast4families.org for more information.