The mayor and some members of the Chicago City Council's Latino Caucus plan to go without food from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 p.m. Friday. They'll begin fasting at an evening mass in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Pius Church in the Pilsen neighborhood.
The local fast comes as activists from immigrant rights groups have taken turns fasting in the National Mall in Washington since last month to try to pressure Congress into approving a reform bill.
The Senate approved a sweeping, bipartisan immigration bill over the summer, but it has stalled in the House. Republicans who control the chamber are divided over providing a path to citizenship for immigrants who are in the U.S. without legal status. An immigration vote is not expected this month as congressional leaders focus on securing approval for a budget deal before heading home for the holidays.
