No, it was the laws that opened the door to acceptance of Bellei’s circumstances, which would not have been eligible otherwise (his not being physically born here).
And this was not tantamount to NBC because Bellei’s window of eligibility closed due to other laws, which the USSC said was quite OK.
Ted is theoretically in the same peril.
He was in fact in the same peril, although instead of 5 years before age 21, for Bellei, Cruz had to complete 5 continuous years any time between the ages of 14 and 28.
In order to demonstrate citizenship today, Cruz has to have not only evidence of his mother's US residency, he also needs to produce evidence of his own presence in the US.
Failing that, Congress can always pass a "personal bill," it has done that many times.