But the child of an illegal alien who manages to make it across the border right before giving birth is eligible?
As I read the plain meaning of "natural born citizen," if you were, under U.S. law, a U.S. citizen at birth (regardless of where your mother was located when you were born) then you are a natural born citizen. If you were not a U.S. citizen at birth but later become a U.S. citizen then you are not a natural born citizen.
“But the child of an illegal alien who manages to make it across the border right before giving birth is eligible?”
No. And even if this weren’t the answer to that question, it doesn’t change the facts of Ted Cruz’s birth, no matter how much you or others like him. I like him myself, from what I know of him aside from this issue and his own statements about it.
“As I read the plain meaning of “natural born citizen,” if you were, under U.S. law, a U.S. citizen at birth (regardless of where your mother was located when you were born) then you are a natural born citizen. If you were not a U.S. citizen at birth but later become a U.S. citizen then you are not a natural born citizen.”
My mother taught me that two wrongs don’t make a right. And I am convinced that you’re simply wrong in your assertions, no matter how well intended. I’ll leave it there as others can explain to you what a natural born citizen meant to the founders of this country better than I can.