In a speech in Trinidad and Tobago, Vice President Biden told an audience that illegal immigrants in the U.S. are “required to constantly live in fear” because of our immigration laws. Biden framed the issue of immigration reform as a matter of showing “respect” to immigrants: “Do we respect one another? And do we show respect?”

“And respecting your people who are living in my country is part of how we will show respect for you and for quite frankly all of the Americas,” he said. Biden touted his and President Obama’s efforts on immigration reform dating back to their days in the Senate.

The vice president was visiting the Caribbean nation to sign a trade agreement.