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President Donald Trump is making the case for his tougher immigration rules during his speech. "The current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers," Trump said. (Feb. 28) AP

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 2017.(Photo: AP)

In his first speech to Congress, President Donald Trump on Tuesday told lawmakers that immigration reform is possible, in addition to the aggressive border-security policies that haveso far characterized his young administration.

But Trump gave few hints about what kind of reform he would consider, and some immigration-reform supporters immediately expressed skepticism about the gesture or rejected it outright. They noted the thrust of the speech's immigration message was focused on the hard-nosed stances he burnished over the course of the 2016 presidential campaign.

"I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nations securityand to restore respect for our laws," Trump said in his hour-longremarks on Capitol Hill. "If we are guided by the well-being of American citizens then I believe Republicans and Democrats can work together to achieve an outcome that has eluded our country for decades."

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Congress' last effort at comprehensive reform of the nation's policies on immigration and border security a 2013 bill passed by the Senate would have granted many undocumented immigrants who havesettledin the U.S.a 13-year path to citizenship while funding unprecedented investment inborder security.

Trump, who campaigned for the White House as an anti-"amnesty" immigration hardliner, did not reveal any other details about his thinking on immigration reformin his address. But earlier in the day, he signaled that he would be interested in a compromise immigration bill that would provide some sort of legal status for many of the 11 million peoplenow in the United States illegally, although not a pathway to citizenship that many immigration advocates have long sought.

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Other parts of Trump's speech emphasized the immigration-enforcement policies that he has become known for, including his signature proposal for a new wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

We must restore integrity and the rule of law at our borders. For that reason, we will soon begin the construction of a great, great wall along our southern border.

"We must restore integrity and the rule of law at our borders," Trump said. "For that reason, we will soon begin the construction of a great, great wall along our southern border. As we speak tonight, we are removing gang members, drug dealers andcriminals that threaten our communities and prey on our very innocent citizens.Bad ones are going out as I speak and as I've promised throughout the campaign."

He also announced the creation of a new office in the Department of Homeland Security called "Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement," or VOICE. The office will serve victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

Trump at one point mentioned four guests in the audience "whose government failed them."Jamiel Shaw, Susan Oliver, Jenna Oliverand Jessica Davis had relatives murdered by people in the country illegally, Trump said.Oliver and Davis are widows of law-enforcement officials killed in the line of duty.

"We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our mediaand silenced by special interests," Trump said.

Frank Sharry, executive director of Americas Voice, a Washington, D.C.-based group that pushes for immigration reform, blasted Trumps comments on immigration as xenophobic.

Despite the earlier news reports that Trump was open to passing an immigration bill that would allow some undocumented immigrants to gain legal status, his address to Congress made no mention of allowing them to legalize their status.

Instead, Sharry said, Trumps speech seemed tailored mostly at pleasing his nativist base.

There was nothing but deportations for the undocumented and nothing but cuts for family immigration, Sharry said.

In the speech, Trump called for switching away from what he called the current system of lower-skilled immigration and instead adopting a merit-based system.

Such a shift would save countless dollars, raise workers wagesand help struggling families including immigrating families enter the middle class and they will do it quickly and they will be very happy indeed, Trump said.

MORE:Arizona lawmakers react to Trump's speech

Sharry, however, said what Trump is saying is that he wants to cut legal immigration, specifically from Mexico, Latin Americaand Asia, the regions of the world that most benefit from the current family-based immigration system.

"Its just another way to say we want fewer brown and yellow people and we want to attract highly skilled people and presumably more Europeans," Sharry said. "Its really quite clear, its not about the rule of law, its about the color of skin. Its about race.

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Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., was a member of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" that collaborated on 2013 Senate-passed comprehensive immigration-reform legislation. He said Trump's remarks about the possibility of reform are a positive sign.

RELATED:Trump's speech: Exaggerations, omissions, facts

Flake said hehopes that legislative attempts to extend protections to the young "dreamers" enrolled in former President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will gain traction.

"Obviously, he wants better border security. We all do," Flake told The Arizona Republic after the speech. "Obviously, we've got to take care of the DACA kids. He's said that nobody's going to deport them. Congress has to act because to have any permanent solution, it has got to be Congress. So, yeah, I think we can work together."

Flake added that he's not surprised by the suggestion that Trump might consider a legal status for some undocumented immigrants: "We all knew it would involve that. If it's going to go to Congress, it's going to be a compromise."

An Arizona mom who was deported in early February has two kids who are U.S. citizens. But here's why Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos had no real path to apply for citizenship. Wochit

Astrid Silva, of Las Vegas, who was brought to the United States without authorization as a 4-year-old child, delivered a blistering Spanish-language Democratic response to Trump's speech, which she described as"divisive" and intended "to cause fear in communities across the country."

These people should not be ICE's target or priority. This is not who we are as a country.

In her remarks as prepared for delivery, she hammered the aggressive deportation effort since Trump took the oath of office.

"Among the people that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)arrested, are mothers, fathers, dreamers with DACA, a victim of domestic violenceand many more," Silva said.

As a matter of fact, tonight in the gallery listening to President Trumps speech were Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos children, a working mother from Arizona who went to her appointment with ICE only to be arrested and deported without reason," Silva continued. "Today,Guadalupe is far from her children, who are U.S. citizens and who are an example of the great impact that Trumps actions have over the American people in general, not just on the undocumented community.

These people should not be ICEs target or priority. This is not who we are as a country."

President Trump spoke to Congress about all of his administration's accomplishments so far. We broke down a couple of his claims.

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In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, President Trump emphasized that he will lead the United States, not the world. USA TODAY NETWORK

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During his address to Congress, President Trump called for the repeal and replacement of Obamacare. USA TODAY NETWORK

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President Donald Trump concluded his speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night by asking for unity. "The time for small thinking is over. The time for trivial fights is behind us," Trump said. (Feb. 28) AP

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Congress applauded the widow of fallen U.S. Navy Special Operator Ryan Owens for so long that President Trump noted that it may have 'broken a record.' USA TODAY NETWORK

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President Donald Trump is making the case for his tougher immigration rules during his speech. "The current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers," Trump said. (Feb. 28) AP

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President Donald Trump touted the accomplishments of his first month in office, saying companies have announced "they will invest billions of dolalrs in the United States and will create tens of thousands of new American jobs." (Feb. 28) AP

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President Trump listed the progress he has made in 'keeping his promises' during his first month in office while addressing Congress for the first time. USA TODAY NETWORK

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President Donald Trump is saying he will keep his promises to the American people while addressing Congress in his first speech as president. (Feb. 28) AP

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During his first address to Congress, President Trump described his campaign as a movement in 2016 that grew into an 'earthquake.' USA TODAY NETWORK

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President Donald Trump kicked off his speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night by condemning acts of hate. He also spoke optimistically about the future of the country. (Feb. 28) AP

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Before his first Congressional address, President Trump appeared on Fox News to talk about everything from immigration to government leaks. USA TODAY NETWORK

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Democratic lawmakers from more than 30 states are taking part in a coordinated rebuttal to Trump's agenda. USA TODAY NETWORK

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President Donald Trump will deliver a speech to Congress on Tuesday night. Newslook

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Fact-checking Trump's first address to Congress

Trump: My job is not to represent the world

'Repeal and replace Obamacare': Trump tells Congress

Trump: 'The time for small thinking is over'

Navy SEAL widow gets long ovation during Trump's speech

Trump: 'Positive immigration reform is possible'

Trump touts first month accomplishments

Has Trump kept his promises so far? He thinks so

Trump: Above all else, we'll 'keep our promises'

Trump: Earth shifted beneath our feet in 2016

Trump begins speech 'condemning hate'

President Trump gets honest about grading himself

Dems rebut Trump's agenda with "Week of Action"

Here is what to expect from Donald trump's address to Congress

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