Jindal confronted by immigration activists

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal kept a hard stance on his immigration policy and advocated for tighter border control and assimilation, despite heckling and protests from an immigration activism group at The Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair Saturday.

"It's time to secure the border for once and for all," Jindal said. "If you want to come to our country, come legally, learn English."

Throughout Jindal's speech, he addressed a variety of issues including defunding Planned Parenthood and instituting term limits for elected officials. His speech at moments was met with chants of “We are America” and “We pay taxes” by members of Asamblea de Derechos Civiles, a Minnesota-based immigration activism group that recently protested at events for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Chris Christie's speech earlier in the day.

"He doesn't understand immigrants," said Carolina Castillo, a member of the group. "He doesn't understand our families' needs."

Jindal wants to repeal President Barack Obama's immigration policy Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, which provides a work permit and exemption from deportation for some undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. before their 16th birthday. He also advocates for cultural assimilation, condemning terms like "African-American" or "Asian-American", saying everyone should just be American.

“No one is being forced to come here in the first place,” Jindal said. “Immigration without assimilation, that's invasion."

Before Jindal stopped by the Republican Party of Iowa Booth in the Varied Industries Building, he was confronted by two activists from the Minnesota immigration group, spending roughly 15 minutes speaking with them. One of the activists mentioned Jindal's parents, pointing out that they were immigrants who were hoping better for themselves and for him too.

“My parents came here legally.There's a big difference,” Jindal said. “When you come here, roll up your sleeves and get to work."

Kenny Linhart, 50, of Des Moines said he agrees with Jindal's immigration stance and said he plans on caucusing for the governor.

"He's dead on," Linhart said. "We need to secure the southern border and establish the laws."

JINDAL'S IOWA STATE FAIR VISIT

QUOTE: "It is time for us to stand up and take our party back. We need to force term limits down their throat. It is time for us to put an end to this nonsense of career lifetime permanent politicians. Let's take America back."

CROWD: The crowd was about 12 rows deep into the Grand Concourse and spilled behind the stage. There were several cheers and moments applause.

OTHER STOPS AT THE FAIR: Jindal visited the Iowa GOP Booth following his soapbox visit. Following speaking to fairgoers, he visited the Iowa Pork Tent to flip pork patties and stopped by the Iowa Farm Bureau booth.

UP NEXT: Gov. Jindal will continue his 99-county tour across Iowa with a visit to Oskaloosa Sunday afternoon at Smokey Row, 109 South Market Street at 2:45 p.m.

DESPITE LOW POLLING NUMBERS, JINDAL PLANS ON WINNING IOWA

Despite lower polling numbers in comparison to his Republican competitors, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said he plans on winning Iowa by continuing his tour across the state and meeting with voters.

Following his speech at the Register's Soapbox, Jindal said his campaign is seeing larger crowds at each of their stops in Iowa and he's hearing that people are worried about the state of the country. Jindal said he is the only candidate that's cut government spending and he has the experience to bring America back to greatness.

"It's a very fluid situation. People are going up and down very quickly," Jindal said. "We are going to continue working hard in the ground. We're going to continue going to every county. I don't think every candidate can do that."

According to Real Clear Politics, Jindal is polling around 1.7 percent approval in Iowa, based on an average of major polls.