While the Republican party has failed time and again to connect with the Hispanic and Latino community especially in terms of its tough position on immigrants, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush voiced his opinion about the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

During a 25th anniversary celebration of his father's presidency at the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum in Texas over the weekend, Bush said that undocumented immigrants are acting of out love for their families, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"We need to get beyond this harsh rhetoric to a better place," Bush said. "Yes, they broke the law, but it's not a felony. It's an act of love, an act of commitment to your family. I honestly think that is a different kind of crime."

In an attempt to gain back votes from the Hispanic community who have lost interest in the Republican party, GOP elders have tried to get congressional leaders to pass immigration reform despite comments earlier this year from House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) that he has no interest in passing any such bill this year.

One effort by Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to introduce a bill that helps younger undocumented immigrants lost steam. And, despite a sponsorship of other GOP members, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), refused the addition of a measure to help veterans obtain green cards in what was a must-pass defense bill, last week.

Bush said he is interested in tackling the immigration issues with a reform bill because it will bring those undocumented into the U.S. economy, the Times reported.

"They could contribute to our country if we actually organized it in a better way," he said.

Before Bush began his tough love speech against the GOP and support of immigration reform, he told the audience that he knew what he was going to say was unorthodox and was going to shake up U.S. politics.

"I'm going to say this and it's going to be on tape, and so be it," he said.