Immigration reform and the path to citizenship are important issues to owners of a handful of Clark County businesses who on Thursday paid a visit to the Vancouver staff of U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, R-Camas.
The five business owners, who are also members of the Main Street Alliance of Washington, asked for an end to the House delay on passing an immigration reform measure. In June, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to provide a citizenship route to an estimated 11 million immigrants in the country illegally. The House has resisted a similar measure.
A study issued in March by the Main Street Alliance of Washington said 78 percent of small business owners in the Western states, including Washington, support the legislation. Herrera Beutler, who was not present for the meeting, has vowed in the past to continue working to resolve the issue.
