Ted Cruz finally says what he’d do about undocumented immigrants

The Washington Post ^ | December 16th, 2015 | By Katie Zezima

[Mariner]

Sen. Ted Cruz said Tuesday he opposes granting legal status to the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, significantly hardening his stance on immigration.

Cruz has repeatedly sidestepped the question of what to do with undocumented immigrants currently living in the country, asserting that the U.S.-Mexico border must be secured before addressing the issue. A plan for what to do with undocumented people living in the country was conspicuously absent from an immigration proposal Cruz unveiled last month.

It is the farthest Cruz has gone on the issue, and the answer came during the Republican debate in an exchange with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla)., with whom Cruz has repeatedly tangled over the issue of immigration.

[Mariner]

This Trump supporter has for months been excoriating Cruz on what appeared to be his refusal to discuss the fate of the illegals here now.

Bravo to Cruz for finally providing the clarity all of us have been waiting for.

I now consider him a credible alternative to Trump and will no longer bash him on this issue.

[Fantasywriter]

Isn’t it closer to forty million?

[Sybeck1]

Club for Growth is going to be pissed!

[ripnbang]

Ditto.

[xzins]

I think he’s been real clear that he wanted to wait on the exact program but that he would only accept legal immigration.

I think we’re still lacking everyone’s specific program except for Jeb. He will issue Valentines cards with their immigration papers.

[GonzoII]

I like Cruz but he still left the question open about what he might do. Check out his exact quote.

[FourPeas]

[rightwingcrazy]

Three words are all he has to say: “get in line”.

[stephenjohnbanker]

““I have never supported legalization, and I do not intend to support legalization,” Cruz said.”

Why the “weasel” word? Cruz is very literate.

“A number of Cruz’s positions on immigration have shifted in the past few years. Cruz, who bills himself as a “champion of legal immigration,” once supported doubling the caps on green cards and increasing the number of the visas for high tech workers – known as H1-B visas – fivefold. Cruz now wants new limits on legal immigration and to temporarily halt the H1-B program, which has been rife with reports of abuse. He introduced a bill to reform it this month.”

It can’t be fixed. It was written by attorneys for lobbyists. More holes than swiss cheese, which was the intended outcome.

This doesn’t clarify anything.

[FewsOrange]

-- Check out his exact quote.

"I have never supported legalization, and I do not intend to support legalization," Cruz said.

[867V309]

Bravo to Cruz for finally providing the clarity all of us have been waiting for.

It's pretty clear who is the leader and who is the follower...

[EternalVigilance]

Lawyers. Sheesh.

[mosesdapoet]

I urge both to take this position which disposes with the hispanic b/s and deals with a bad neighbor dumping refuse and garbage on our lawns ...

There is no such thing as a quote, Hispanic race, unquote.It is a strawman invented by so called liberals. That term has been applied to those from individual South American countries some of which have governments hostile to US and actually claim parts of this country as theirs, and others which are friendly. They are composed of various races as we are, with the difference being their primary common language is Spanish.

Besides flooding the labor market with cheap labor which reduces job opportunities for American citizens in a diminishing job narket base. As well as bringing in highly infectious comunicable diseases are also pouring through this uncontrolled border creating serious health problems for our country.

This destructive utopian Mexican open border approach of even considering granting those who enter the US illegally through it. Entitlement to all benefits beyond those of what we give to our citizens destroys the value of an American citizenship. It is being promoted by the name callers mostly in socialist circles such as the democrat party as well some republicans who use such terms as nativist promoting racial division .

What we should be doing is taking a very very hard look at our relationship with Mexico along with trade and its myriad misstreatment of Americans as 3rd class citizens and its claims on American territory . There is no doubt there are hundreds of complaints, if not thousands, from American citizens who have retired there. Along with travelers running to American consulates about conditions that are going unreported because of this Mexican policy

While we are expected to allow Mexican citizens enter to our country illegally and offer them preferential treatment over our citizens allowing them to purchase land in their own name and and even voting privledges which they cannot do if they choose to retire in Mexico.

The leading Republican candidates and that includes Trump may mention some of this but thus far have refused to identify the problem let alone properly redress it by suggesting or implementing reciprocity.

Since the Mexicans are permitting foreigners transit through their country for illegal entry into ours. Any person entering illegally through that open border whether a bona fide citizen of Mexico or not should be treated as if they were a Mexican and tossed back to Mexico and let Mexico deal with them. Illegals should be offered the same rights as Americans. No property ownership and voting rights let alone access to the multitude of costly programs comm9ng out of US taxpayer pockets.

If reciprocity were implemented there would be no need to worry about who will pay for walls or border fences.Illegals would leave on their own accord . And the value of being an American citizen restored.

[Carry_Okie]

Bravo to Cruz for finally providing the clarity all of us have been waiting for.

Why the wait? It's been on his website for weeks.

[9YearLurker]

Nah—the “I do not intend” wiggle language was in there just for pro-amnesty backers like them.

Cruz is slippery—and there’s a reason he’s especially so on this topic.

[RKBA Democrat]

Meh. The fact that the answer had to be dragged out of him highlights that he is at best a reluctant ally on immigration.

[Yosemitest]

They can't stop CRUZ.
Source:

... Cruz even indicated he would back deporting those who came here illegally -- another proposal he has usually rebuffed.

"I would enforce the law," Cruz said, explaining that he would first deport criminals without proper papers.
"Federal immigration law provides that
if someone is here illegally and is apprehended,
that they should be sent back to their home country."

Cruz has recently begun stressing that he believes the number of undocumented immigrants would decrease with strict border enforcement.
...

"The only people I'm under fire from are reporters who want to throw rocks," Cruz said in Harlan.
"Once we've demonstrated that we can solve the problem, then we can have a conversation about what to do about whatever people remain illegally."

The Rubio campaign ...
"He has attempted to muddy the waters," Cruz said on the stage. "Where there was a battle over amnesty
and some chose, like Sen. Rubio to stand with Barack Obama and Chuck Schemer
and support a massive amnesty plan.
Others chose to stand with Jeff Sessions and Steve King and the American people
and secure the border."

Let's get VERY CLEAR on TED CRUZ and Immigration:

Immigration

As the son of a Cuban immigrant, Sen. Cruz celebrates LEGAL immigration.
He has championed measures
to secure the border,
reform the LEGAL immigration system,
and uphold the rule of law.

Americans, and particularly Texans, have witnessed the harmful effects of an unsecure border,
endangering the lives both of citizens and those who enter illegally.
President Obama's policies have encouraged drug smugglers, child abusers, murderers, and other dangerous criminals to traffick immigrant children into our nation under life-threatening conditions.
In the summer of 2013 we witnessed a humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border, propelled by PROMISES OF AMNESTY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE .
Immigrants deserve a better system in which they will be welcomed to the United States safely and with dignity.

As a critical step to protecting families and inviting more people to enter LEGALLY, in 2014, Sen. Cruz proposed legislation TO PREVENT OBAMA FROM ILLEGALLY EXPANDING AMNESTY .
The House acted to solve the ongoing crisis and passed bills that closely mirrored Sen. Cruz’s proposals,
but regrettably the Senate DemocRATS REFUSED TO ALLOW A VOTE on the measures.

In 2013, Sen. Cruz proposed amendments to the “Gang of 8” bill that would
strengthen border security,
expand green card opportunities,
increase high-skilled “H1B” visas, PREVENT ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM RECEIVING WELFARE BENEFITS ,
and enforce the rule of law.

ALSO from On The Issues :

Ted Cruz on Immigration

End Obama's illegal amnesty via Congress' checks & balances
Q: How to respond to the split within your party on immigration?
What you're saying is
that the Republicans should vote to fund the governments for all departments except one:
no funding for the Department of Homeland Security,
which handles immigration, rescinding President Obama's executive action,
and if he vetoes that, he's responsible for shutting down the department.
The problem is
that's almost exactly what you did with the government shutdown across the entire government in 2013 with ObamaCare,
and it backfired badly on your party.

CRUZ: All across this country, Republicans campaigned, saying:
if you elect a Republican Senate, we will stop President Obama's illegal amnesty.
We need to HONOR WHAT WE SAID .
We should use the constitutional checks and balances that we have TO REIN IN THE ABUSE OF POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE.
Step #1 is IF the president implements this LAWLESS AMNESTY, that THE SENATE WILL NOT CONFIRM ANY executive or judicial nominees.


Defund amnesty; and refuse any nominees until rescinded

Q: How would you rescind President Obama's executive action on immigration?

CRUZ: We should use the constitutional checks and balances that we have TO REIN IN THE ABUSE OF POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE .
Step #1 that I have called for is the incoming majority leader should announce IF the president implements this LAWLESS AMNESTY, that THE SENATE WILL NOT CONFIRM ANY executive or judicial nominees,
other than VITALl national security positions,
for the next two years,
UNLESS AND UNTIL the president ENDS THIS LAWLESS AMNESTY .
That is AN EXPLICIT AUTHORITY given TO the Senate.

Q: Are you saying the Senate should REFUSE TO CONFIRM the president's new nominee for attorney general?

CRUZ: We have to REIN IN the executive.
And step #2, we've got is THE POWER OF THE PURSE,
and we should FUND ONE AT A TIME the CRITICAL PRIORITIES of the federal government,
but ALSO USE THE POWER OF THE PURSE TO ATTACH RIDERS .


No path to citizenship for 1.65 million illegals in Texas

When discussing what to do about the 1.65 million ILLEGAL immigrants living in Texas, . . . CRUZ again said
HE DID NOT SUPPORT A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR ILLEGAL immigrants living in America, . . .

Give police more power to ask about immigration status

Cruz accused Dewhurst of using his position as head of the Texas Senate to KILL A BILL last year that would have given police more power to ask anyone they detain about their citizenship status--a charge Dewhurst denied.
Both agreed that the US has FAILED TO SECURE ITS BORDER with Mexico,
and said they OPPOSE AMNESTY for ILLEGAL immigrants and the Obama administration's new directive
allowing many young illegal immigrants brought to the US as children to be exempted from deportation.


Boots on the ground, plus a wall

Border wall: James and Leppert OPPOSE A WALL,
Dewhurst and CRUZ tout "boots on the ground" AND A WALL IN SOME PLACES .


Triple the size of the Border Patrol

CRUZ on immigration: Wants to TRIPLE [the]SIZE of Border Patrol.
Says Dewhurst supported in-state tuition for kids of ILLEGAL immigrants.
Dewhurst: I have always been against an amnesty program.
"If they want to be a citizen, they ought to go home and reapply."
Dewhurst says he was against tuition for children of illegal immigrants.


Strengthen border security and increase enforcement

Ted Cruz has worked to STRENGTHEN BORDER SECURITY and help ensure that America remains a nation of laws.
Among other efforts, he has worked on efforts to INCREASE PENALTIES for felons WHO ENTER THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY .
Ted authored a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of 10 states in Lopez v. Gonzales,ILLEGALLY .

[Tired of Taxes]

the farthest furthest Cruz has gone on the issue

The word "farthest" refers to physical distance. #grammarpolice

[EagleUSA]

Right On about El Jebo. He has never fooled anyone with half a brain...

[odawg]

“This Trump supporter has for months been excoriating Cruz on what appeared to be his refusal to discuss the fate of the illegals here now.”

Some controversy over his language. He didn’t say “I will not”, he said “I don’t intend to”. Lawyer talk.