Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says illegal immigrants endure “heartbreaking” conditions, but wouldn’t agree with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush that they aren’t committing a felony.
“We’re a nation of immigrants, we need to celebrate that, but at the same time, rule of law matters,” Cruz said Monday on CNN’s “The Lead.”
The Republican senator, whose name has been included in 2016 speculation, added that the border needs to be secured to deal with the “humanity” of the situation.
“If you come down to Texas, and you see the conditions where you see photographs that are heartbreaking of bodies, of women and children left abandoned in the desert,” Cruz said. “Because they entrust themselves to transnational global criminal cartels who smuggle them in, who assault them, who leave them to die. This is not a humane system and we need to solve the problem.”
Cruz said in addition to securing the border, legal immigration needs to be improved and streamlined.
However, Cruz would not go as far as Bush, who said in an interview with Fox News that aired Sunday that illegal immigration is not a felony.
“Yes, they broke the law, but it’s not a felony,” Bush said. “It’s an act of love, It’s an act of commitment to your family.”
Cruz acknowledged that immigrants come to the U.S. “seeking a better world,” but added that some are “breaking the law to do so.”
Cruz, who said he was a “big fan” of Bush’s, dodged when asked whether the former Floria governor — also seen as a possible 2016 contender — is a strong conservative.
“That’s a question for the voters to say,” Cruz said,
Cruz, who said he likes both Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, also said the GOP establishment wants to pick a nominee for 2016, “who they think won’t rock the boat.”
“I don’t think Washington elites are going to be very effective picking the nominee. It’s going to be, quite rightly, a decision for the grassroots to make,” Cruz said.
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