It’s private in that it’s a one-on-one and not on the stump. Cruz has yet to make these statements ‘public’. If/when he does then it’s game on.
As far as who wins the war on immigration Cruz is going to have an uphill battle here. Since July Trump has owned this issue and has branded it TRUMP. Cruz hitting him on this and then going harder than Trump may not be enough in the end, but time will tell.
Being for amnesty I don't consider "owning the issue".
Ok, I see what you’re saying. For me, this youtube video was leaked by the Cruz campaign, contemporaneous with the airing of their new ad on immigration— why in this manner- we’ll see.