Immigration Activists Grill Jindal At Iowa State Fair Saturday

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has been having a heated day at the Iowa State Fair Saturday — both flipping pork burgers on a grill and discussing immigration with protesters.

Jindal spent time on the fairgrounds talking with immigration activists who sought to disrupt his appearance on a political soapbox hosted by The Des Moines Register. He says he wanted them to understand that people seeking to come to the United States must "come legally, learn English, adopt our values, roll up their sleeves and get to work."

Jindal then moved onto the Iowa Pork Producers tent — a common candidate stop — and manned the grill, chatted with voters and sampled a pork chop on a stick. Jindal continues to lag in the polls, but says he is putting in significant time in Iowa, which he thinks will pay off.

He said: "I don't think there is a shortcut to winning Iowa."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal wants to go farther than most in cracking down on so-called sanctuary cities that shield immigrants in the country illegally from federal authorities.

The Republican presidential candidate says the political leaders of such cities should themselves face criminal penalties. Says Jindal: "Let's lock them up."

Jindal made the comment Saturday in an appearance on the Iowa State Fair's political soapbox, a common stop for presidential candidates.

Jindal has been stuck near the bottom of the polls and is struggling to rise. He touted his own immigrant background but emphasized that his parents came to the United States legally. Pro-immigrant protesters were on hand for Jindal's appearance and an earlier one by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, chanting, "We are America."