2016 Republican candidate Donald Trump made a campaign stop in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday where he greeted with cheers, while immigrant rights activists held a protest.

While speaking at an event hosted by the National Federation of Republican Assemblies Saturday morning, the GOP front-runner touted the fact that he has taken the lead in numerous national and state polls.

"We're going to take this country back and make it so great again, so strong again," Trump said to a crowd of 500 at a Christian-based entertainment facility in Rocketown, reports USA Today.

Trump also touched on a number of topics, including health care, veterans' rights, immigration, his reality TV series, his books and family, and police brutality.

"I'm a Republican, I'm conservative. But I'm just as angry with Republicans. Because they go to Washington and something happens: They become weak," Trump said.

He also took a jab at undocumented workers while addressing issues within the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying, "The illegal immigrants, in many cases ... are treated better than our veterans."

Although the billionaire real estate mogul labeled most immigrants from Mexico as rapists and thieves in his presidential announcement speech, on Saturday he said that he employs many Hispanics within his private enterprise and described them as "great people."

He went on to criticize conservatives who support policies that allow undocumented immigrants to remain in the country after committing crimes. He called this concept "sanctuary citizens."

"Last night in Massachusetts, I met some unbelievable families that have been devastated by illegal immigrants. They come into the country and kill members of their family," Trump said.

Meanwhile, immigrant rights activists protested Trump's visit by holding a rally outside the venue.

Two local advocacy organizations, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and Workers' Dignity, led a march of hundreds of immigrant community members from the Music City Walk of Fame Park to Rocketown, reports WKRN.

Prior to the event, a south Nashville immigration lawyer placed a prominent message for Trump on display, which reads "Donald Trump, make Nashville great again. Please leave soon."