Immigration activists in California are continuing to push for immigration reform to be passed by Congress this year. On Monday, dozens of protestors began a five-day fast in a bid to pressure Congress to move on passing a bill for comprehensive immigration reform and creating a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants that are currently living illegally in the United States.
The Fast for Families was launched this week in Orange County during a demonstration outside of the office of Republican Ed Royce in Brea, according to CBS Los Angeles. Royce has been targeted by protestors due to the fact that he, along with other Republicans in the House of Representatives, denied funding for the Deferred Action program that grants a two-year deportation deferral and work permits for young undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children.
There have also been fasts organized in Brea, Modesto, San Bernardino and Bakersfield, which falls in the district of Kevin McCarthy, the Senator who has already declared that no immigration reform will be taking place this year and has refused to support any comprehensive immigration bill.
Supporters of immigration reform claim that they are confident they have enough votes in the House of Representatives to pass a bill similar to that passed by the Senate back in June, but that House Speaker John Boehner is obstructing it from being brought to the floor so that it can be voted on.