Immigration advocates see urgency in Biden's speech to pass comprehensive reform

In a speech dominated by the economy and rising inflation, President Joe Biden on Tuesday framed the need to pass immigration reform in Congress as an economic and liberty issue during his first State of the Union speech.

Biden made the case that providing a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers," temporary status recipients, farmworkers and essential workers could help ease labor shortages while continuing the tradition of the U.S. as a welcoming nation of immigrants.

"Revise our laws so businesses have the workers they need and families don’t wait decades to reunite," Biden said. "It’s not only the right thing to do — it’s the economically smart thing to do." 

Biden's State of the Union address focused largely on policy areas where he has had more success during his first year in office, such as his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the bipartisan infrastructure legislation he signed into law.