President Barack Obama used a cautious tone when he briefly spoke about immigration reform during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Rather than demanding Congress to pass a reform bill or scolding House Republicans for stalling the process last year, President Obama devoted only a paragraph during his address to discuss an issue that he's called one of his top policy priorities in his second term. While this does not necessarily mean that the president is softening up on the issue, it shows that he doesn't want to rock the boat as House Republicans are poised to release a proposal for reform as soon as this week. 

House Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders will reportedly unveil a one-page statement of immigration principles at a three-day retreat that starts on Wednesday, reports the New York Times. The document is expected to call for stronger border security and enforcement measures, in addition to a pathway for immigrants to gain legal status, but not full American citizenship.

With this in mind, the POTUS seems reluctant to do or say anything that could jeopardize getting GOP cooperation.

During the SOTU, immigration reform was strategically wrapped within his larger economic message, where he stated that there is a broad coalition that supports his reform push.

"If we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement - and fix our broken immigration system," Obama said.

He also focused on the positive, instead of bashing anti-immigrant Republicans, saying "members of both parties in the House want to" address immigration reform this year.   

Furthermore, he didn't go into detail about the specific policies like he did during last year's address, notes the Huffington Post. Instead of mentioning key Democratic ideas like offering the 11.7 undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S. a path to citizenship, he talked about how immigration reform would help boost the economy.

"Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades. And for good reason: when people come here to fulfill their dreams - to study, invent, and contribute to our culture - they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everybody. So let's get immigration reform done this year."

New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer praised Obama's approach, stating that is was "smart" for him to avoid making specific demands regarding for immigration reform.

"To not get into the details -- it should be this, it should be that -- is smart," said Schumer, according to the LA Times.

Although Obama didn't demand Boehner call a vote on the Senate's comprehensive immigration bill, lambast the GOP or address mass deportations, this doesn't mean that Obama's position on immigration reform has changed.

He's still for the "earned path to citizenship" that Republicans oppose. He's against employers who "game the system" by hiring undocumented immigrants, reports Politico.

"While there are multiple paths the House of Representatives can take, the president stands willing to work with all parties to make immigration reform a reality," reads the official White House State of the Union fact sheet.