South Florida U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia is joining a 24-hour congressional fast relay in solidarity with a group of immigration activists on the National Mall.
The freshman Democrat will fast until late Friday morning. He follows 24-hour fasts by Reps. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., and Juan Vargas, D-Calif.
Earlier this week, three immigration activists ended a 21-day fast on doctor's recommendations. Other activists are in their second week of fasting on Capitol Hill. They are all calling for comprehensive immigration legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million people in the country illegally.
Garcia sponsored a comprehensive immigration bill similar to the one the Democratic-led Senate passed in June, but GOP House leaders say they don't plan to take up the bill this year.
