Joe Biden may have arrived late to his scheduled commencement speech at Miami Dade College, but for many of the graduates listening, his message was right on time.

Biden, true to his character, started his speech off with some lighthearted joking.

"My name is Joe Biden. I am Jill Biden's husband. On every community college campus, that's how I'm known," said the vice president, as quoted by Mashable.

Jill Biden is a longtime community English professor and strong advocate for community colleges.

The vice president also excused his lateness on headwinds that slowed down Air Force Two, clarifying that he meant actual headwinds, not political ones.

As Biden's speech got underway, he stressed that the key to American success was innovation and that immigration played a crucial role in that innovation. He said the U.S. economy required a "constant, substantial stream of immigrants" to continue to grow and sustain itself.

It was a message that greatly resonated with the crowd of 15,000 plus graduates, hailing from 39 different nations. Miami Dade College happens to be the largest and one of the most diverse community colleges in the country with over 165,000 students from across the globe.

"All of you speak the language of America, the language of courage, determination and success," Biden said. "And you made the right decision because you're graduating into an era of immense change and possibilities for this country."

Perhaps Biden's most important statement came with his acknowledgement of undocumented immigrants.

"That's why we have to act to bring 11 million people out of the shadows and put them on a path to citizenship," Biden said. "These people are already Americans."

At one point, someone in the crowd yelled out, "Stop deportations!" Biden replied that they were working on it, but he should let him finish his speech first.

Biden also commended Florida legislature for passing a bill that will allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. As News Press reported, "Florida is the latest of 20 states to enact such a measure, and its passage marks a significant shift in the immigration debate in Florida away from a focus on immigration enforcement."