On their 11th day without food, Vice President Joe Biden visited a group of immigration reform advocates who are going without food to bring attention to their issue.
Speaking at the “Fast for Families” tent on the National Mall, Biden told the fasters, “As my father would say, come hell or high water, we’re going to win this.” Eliseo Medina, a former Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union called the visit inspiring.
“I was humbled and strengthened by his words and commitment to immigration reform,” Medina said in a statement. “He gives me more hope that we can finally address this moral crisis.”
Medina, who is a longtime immigration reform advocate, is fasting along with Cristian Avila, of Mi Familia Vota, and Dae Joong Yoon, of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium. All three have said they’ll continue fasting until they can no long sustain or are “medically prevented from continuing their efforts,” according to a news release
Yoon said House Speaker John Boehner’s comments Thursday that the immigration reform effort is “absolutely not” over, along with Biden’s visit, is providing encouragement.
“This movement, our fast, is only a small sacrifice we make compared to the suffering endured by the families torn apart due to a dysfunctional immigration system,” said Yoon, a Korean immigrant. “It’s time we stop this suffering and get immigration reform done.”