In late June, the U.S. Senate passed an immigration reform bill, known as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The bill is a mixed bag, but it importantly creates a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States.
Since then, the bill has stalled in the House of Representatives. At first, they said it would have to wait until after the August recess, but now that congress is back in session, they want to kick it further down the road, because of the Syria crisis and a manufactured budget crisis. With election campaigns taking off in the spring, the window of opportunity is closing quickly.
Instead of waiting idly while the House stalls, four MCC leaders are taking action. They have joined with 6,300 other activists in the Fast Action for Immigration Reform, a national effort Sept. 9-Oct. 18 organized by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
The four MCCers joining the 40 day fast are Saulo Padilla, coordinator of MCC’s U.S. Immigration Education program, executive director J Ron Byler, board chair Ann Hershberger and Virginia representative of MCC East Coast Luke Schrock-Hurst.
For complete coverage, check out Kelli Yoder’s story on the Mennonite World Review:
Saulo Padilla is fasting for immigration reform. And the hunger he feels is familiar.
A few years ago while living in Goshen, Ind., his daughters were threatened with deportation. For four days they waited for border patrol officers to make a decision.
“There was a hole in our gut every day,” he said. “This is the same hole in my gut that I feel now when I’m hungry.”
Padilla coordinates the immigration education national program for Mennonite Central Committee U.S. He’s joined the Fast Action for Immigration Reform, a national effort Sept. 9-Oct. 18 organized by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, of which MCC is a member.