If you're a student learning about politics, there is arguably no better teacher than a sitting congressman.

Marian Catholic High School students had that opportunity Friday when they got to pose questions to U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa.Barletta shared about what led him to run for congress, and took questions on everything from illegal immigration to Donald Trump.With the Iowa caucuses just days away, it was understandable that the 2016 presidential race was on many students' minds.Asked about his thoughts on Trump, the congressman said that the larger-than-life presidential candidate sometimes chooses his words poorly, but has been a refreshing voice that the Republican party cannot ignore."He's changing the political landscape," Barletta said. "Some of the things he says, you just shake your head. But there are some things that the party, the Republican Party, should really listen to," he said.Barletta said that regardless of some of Trump's gaffes, he likes that he is representing Americans who want a candidate to do something, anything, to fix Washington."People are so disgusted with the problems we have in Washington, here's a person who says, 'I don't care how, I'm going to fix it,'" Barletta said.But he already endorsed another candidate. He is staying with the person who he has endorsed in the past two Republican presidential primaries - former Pa. Sen. Rick Santorum. He said the two have been friends for a long time."He's a friend. I am a loyalist. He's still in the race, and I support him," Barletta said.Barletta said there are some similarities between Trump's no frills message and his own work on fighting illegal immigration."It is not politically easy to deal with a problem like illegal immigration, but it's a problem that I had to deal with," he said.Students were interested in Barletta's thoughts on that issue, which he said inspired him to run for Congress while serving as Hazleton's mayor.Barletta's "Illegal Immigration Reform Act" imposed a $1,000 fine for landlords who rented to undocumented immigrants in the city, and allowed the city to deny business licenses to establishments that employ them.Barletta said that he has been emboldened in his position since terrorists have seen the potential to use the same methods that illegal immigrants do to enter and stay in this country."This is a country built on immigration. We want people to come here for a better life. But we have to know who is coming," he said.The event was set up by Stan Dakotsy, best known as the school's football coach, and a history teacher at Marian. A parent made the connection between the school and the congressman. Dakotsy said he was impressed with the students' questions for Barletta."We're always looking to add to the educational experience," Dakotsy said. "It was a great presentation, and I thought the students did a great job with the questions."