President Obama today said he is pushing for sweeping changes in immigration policy.

His message was that the United States needs a new law, one which secures borders, targets businesses that hire illegal workers and punishes those living illegally. However, most importantly the law should give them a path to citizenship.

He called on the support of the Republicans to pass such a law.

The President made this announcement following comments from visiting Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Calderon said the new Arizona law is discriminatory against foreign-born workers. The law states that police must check the immigration status of anyone they suspect is in the US illegally.

Obama said that the new law in Arizona highlights the need for a comprehensive immigration reform.  He says that the reaction of frustration throughout the United States is an emotion which he shares.

He said "In the United States of America, no law-abiding person -- be they an American citizen, a legal immigrant, or a visitor or tourist from Mexico -- should ever be subject to suspicion simply because of what they look like."

President Calderon bought up the controversial law as one of his first formal remarks on his two day visit.

He said despite Mexico’s “significant contribution to the economy and society of the United States," many Mexicans "live in the shadows, and at times, as in Arizona, confront patterns of discrimination."

Tonight the Obama’s are hosting a state dinner in his honor and tomorrow Calderon will address a joint session of the US Congress.