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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was heckled during a Friday night speech in Miami by a handful of young activists opposed to his stance on immigration reform.

But the potential presidential contender laughed it off, joking that he's the rare elected official to be heckled "by both sides of the immigration debate."

"I just hope you bought the book," Rubio said to the protesters as they were removed from the room by security, according to the Washington Post.

Rubio later joked: "If what they wanted was a discount of the book we could have worked it out."

The senator was speaking at Miami Dade College as part of a multi-state tour to promote his book, "American Dreams," as he works to build a national profile in preparation for a potential presidential bid.

But the hecklers highlighted the fact that what's perhaps one of his greatest advantages is also part of what's standing in his way to the White House: His leadership in passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate in 2013 that was dead on arrival in the House, countered by heavy conservative opposition.

Rubio's role in that legislative fight was initially seen as a possible crowning achievement for the rising GOP star, but ultimately crippled him with conservatives who saw him as too willing to compromise with Democrats for a bad bill.

The Florida Republican has indeed been heckled before by members of the other party, over his efforts with that bill. During a 2013 Tea Party summit in Florida, Rubio was met with cries of "No amnesty!" from the conservative crowd.

Friday night, he encountered the opposite.

"What about my parents?" one protester cried, per the Post, prompting others to join in. Another swore, for which Rubio apologized to the crowd.

See more here:
Rubio heckled by immigration protesters

L.E. Baskow

Congressman-elect Cresent Hardy thanks supporters as Republicans gather to celebrate election victories, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, at Red RockResort.

By Ana Ley (contact)

Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 | 8:45 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Cresent Hardy drew mixed reactions from Hispanic business leaders Friday afternoon while discussing immigration reform and the states struggling education system.

The congressman got a mostly warm reception at a luncheon put on by the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, but the group became visibly tense when he criticized President Barack Obamas executive actions granting deportation relief to undocumented immigrants. One woman who declined to be named winced and rolled her eyes.

The chamber is very open to having politicians come in and talk about their views, Chairwoman Maggie Arias-Petrel said, noting that the group has no position on Obamas immigration deal.

Hardy, whose district includes minority-heavy North Las Vegas, also told the crowd that he has an obligation to create an opportunity for people to come here who are after the American Dream, and said he would do everything possible to keep families together.

Latin Chamber member Vida Lin said she was pleased to hear the congressman support immigration reform but disagreed with his view on the presidents deal because it moves immigrants one step forward. Lin and others at the event said they liked Hardys candor, even if they disagreed with his views.

Hardy highlighted the importance of addressing Nevadas broken education system and told the crowd that he wanted to support programs that provide English language development skills for students.

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Cresent Hardy speech draws mixed reaction from Latin Chamber

President Obama #39;s Immigration Announcement [Full Speech]
Immigration Reform 2014 News: In an address from the White House, President Obama chose confrontation over conciliation as he asserted the powers of the Oval. President Obama Speech on ...

By: Koeman Karr

See original here:
President Obama's Immigration Announcement [Full Speech] - Video

Latin American governments expressed disappointment this week over a Texas judges decision to temporarily halt the rollout of President Obamas executive action to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala issued statements Tuesday regarding Judge Andrew Hanens injunction on the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was scheduled to begin accepting applications Wednesday, as well as the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, planned for May.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson confirmed Tuesday that both programs would be suspended while the White House appealed the decision. The existing 2012 DACA program remains in place.

Mexicos foreign ministry released a statement noting that it lamented the judges decision, and warned Mexicans in the U.S. not to fall for scams that could proliferate in the wake of confusion caused by the ruling. Mexicans, who make up the majority of the U.S. immigrant population, have been the largest group of beneficiaries of President Obamas executive action on immigration thus far. Immigrants from Mexico make up about 65 percent of those enrolled in the 2012 DACA program, which grants work authorizations and deportation relief for young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

Guatemala issued a similar statement of regret. The Guatemalan government profoundly laments the decision suspending the enforcement of immigration measures approved by the U.S. presidency that benefits the Guatemalan community, the foreign relations ministry said Tuesday.

Marvin Ponce, an adviser to Honduras president, criticized the political undercurrents of the decision, calling it evidence that there are political sectors fighting to torpedo decisions that alleviate social and economic pressures that overwhelm our countries, local media reported.

El Salvadors government also said it would back a prompt search for measures that promote migratory stability for all migrants that adhere to U.S. standards and whose work contributes to the economy of the country.

Migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras made up the bulk of unauthorized border crossers last summer in what the Obama administration deemed a humanitarian crisis. More than 67,000 unaccompanied children and 66,900 family units entered the country through the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2014. Congressional Republicans attributed the surge to the 2012 DACA program, saying rumors of leniency fueled unauthorized migration, but Democrats and immigration advocates said pervasive gang violence in Central America was largely responsible for the influx.

Earlier this year, the Obama administration carved out $1 billion of its 2015 budget to enhance security in those three Central American countries to stem the flow of unauthorized migration. It also launched an in-country refugee processing program in those countries to reunite children who qualify for refugee status with parents living in the U.S.

The rest is here:
Immigration Reform: Mexico, Central American Governments ...

A day after Judge Andrew S. Hanen of the federal district court in Brownsville, Texas, issued an injunction preventing the Obama administration from implementing itsplan to delay deportation for millions ofundocumented immigrants, the statusof U.S. immigration policyis as confused and uncertain as ever. A few ideas about what might come next are in the links below.

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What's in Wonkbook:1) Policymakers respond to immigration ruling 2) Opinions, including Wolf on the dollar3) A surprising poll on gay marriage, and more

Number of the day: 11.4 million. That's how many people signed up for health insurance plans under Obamacare this year, according to the White House. The number will likely decline as the year progresses, as people leave their policies. Jason Millman in The Washington Post.

1. Topstory: Policymakers respond to immigration ruling

An appeal could take months. "President Barack Obama's administration faces a difficult and possibly lengthy legal battle to overturn a Texas court ruling that blocked his landmark immigration overhaul, since the judge based his decision on an obscure and unsettled area of administrative law, lawyers said. ... There was no consensus among lawyers with expertise in administrative law and immigration law on whether Hanen would be reversed on appeal. But they said the judge was wise to focus on an area of administrative law where legal precedent is sometimes fuzzy." David Ingram and Mica Rosenberg for Reuters.

Primary source: The opinion.

It doesn't look as though the opinion will resolve the debate in Congress over funding Homeland Security, as some had hoped. "Dont count on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to play dealmaker in the fight over Department of Homeland Security funding. The Kentucky Republican is under intense pressure from conservatives to hold the line against President Obamas immigration actions, and he shows no signs of backing down. ... McConnell could have seized on the injunction to push conservatives toward funding the DHS while the court fight plays out. The fact that he didnt, Senate Democrats say, is a sign that McConnell wont be coming to the negotiating table." Alexander Bolton in The Hill.

Much of Obama's agenda is now in the hands of the courts. "Along with the immigration action, the fate of two of Obamas other signature initiatives a landmark health-care law and a series of aggressive executive actions on climate change now rests in the hands of federal judges. It is a daunting prospect for a president in the final two years of his tenure who believes he is on the path to leaving a lasting impact on intractable and politically perilous issues, despite an often bitter relationship with Congress." David Nakamura and Juliet Eilperin in The Washington Post.

Here's what you need to know to understand the injunction. The Washington Post.

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Heres whats next for immigration reform - The ...