By Alex Robinson
Doctors insisted S.J. Jung, a Flushing business owner and president of the MinKwon Center for Community Action, end an eight-day fast for immigration reform last week in Washington after he experienced stomach pain and severe dehydration.
Jung participated in the “Fast for Families” with other activists in a tent outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to push Congress to pass reform to give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. The group called off its fast Tuesday.
“I lost about 15 pounds down there, and my stomach was empty, but my heart is full of hope and renewed commitment,” Jung said after he returned to Flushing last week. As an American I believe we should pass immigration reform.”
The U.S. Senate passed an immigration reform bill in May that would give undocumented immigrants legal status and a path to citizenship. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced the bill, which was written by a bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of Eight.”
The bill, however, was never brought before the House of Representatives for a vote.
“Now is the time for action. I would like to see [House Speaker] John Boehner bring immigration reform to a vote this year in the House or to clearly articulate a time table for immigration reform,” Jung said.
Immigration reform is a cause close to Jung’s heart since he immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1986 at the age of 22 before eventually becoming an American citizen. He said he knows firsthand what immigrants are going through.
“I was fasting as an immigrant and I was also fasting as an American. It was one small way for me to share the pains and sorrows of so many separated families and deported immigrants,” Jung said. “I was there as an American as I believe immigration reform isn’t just a moral imperative — it’s an economic one.”
Labor leaders, evangelical pastors, White House officials and more than 30 members of Congress from both parties have visited the fasters.
Many high-ranking government officials also came to visit the site of the “Fasting for Families” tent, including Vice President Joe Biden, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez.
Jung is currently recovering from his fast, which he ended Nov. 25 after a visit to the emergency room. Doctors warned Jung continuing the fast could potentially be very dangerous for his health.
Jung’s fellow fasters held on until Tuesday and received a visit from President Barack Obama, who voiced his support for them, the day after Thanksgiving. The last four members of Jung’s group to break their fast were immediately replaced by eight new activists who vowed to continue the fight.
The MinKwon Center, a Flushing-based nonprofit that advocates for immigrant’s rights, helped to organize a national day of fasting Dec. 3, which Jung hopes will spread the demonstration nationwide.
“Immigration is not only necessary for immigrants, but our nation’s future,” he said.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
