The issue of immigration shouldn't be used as a "political football," Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Tuesday.

Obama spoke at a rally in San Antonio, a city with a heavy Hispanic population. Obama said the government should be trying to come to a solution on the issue rather than trying to score "cheap political points."

Obama says border security has to be combined with a pathway to citizenship for people who are already in the U.S.

Obama's statements were met with cheers. Before his address, some in the crowd chanted "Si, se puede!" -- the Spanish equivalent of "Yes, we can!"

Obama also addressed the issue of home foreclosures at a roundtable discussion earlier in the day, saying both the African-American and Hispanic communities "have been disproportionately affected."

Obama was scheduled to hold another rally Tuesday night in Houston. Texas holds its primary on March 4th. More than 220 delegates are at stake in the contest, more than half of whom will be apportioned based on the primary.