Groups pushing for tougher immigration laws say Sen. Ted Cruz needs to do a better job attacking Sen. Marco Rubio, after Rubio put Cruz on the defensive on immigration during last week’s GOP debate.
Rubio has prompted Cruz to explain why he proposed an amendment to the “Gang of Eight” immigration bill, when it was being considered in 2013. Cruz opposed the bill, and has hammered away at Rubio for supporting a bill that would have created a path to U.S. citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
But instead of explaining why Cruz sought to amend the bill, immigration hawks say Cruz should instead push Rubio to explain his position.
“One of the reasons Cruz got caught in that defense mode was that he was either reluctant or unable to attack Rubio on what might be his weakest point, which is that he still supports doubling legal immigration,” Mark Krikorian, executive director for the Center for Immigration Studies told the Washington Examiner.
Cruz should instead respond by contrasting his views and voting record with Rubio’s rather than allowing himself to get bogged down by competitors’ attempts to “muddy the waters,” said Krikorian.
Many immigration hawks also want Cruz to reminded voters that Rubio’s bill would have doubled legal immigration, at a time when millions of Americans still aren’t working.
According to NumbersUSA, a nonprofit focused on lowering immigration levels, Cruz’s voting record was more aligned with conservative immigration policies than Rubio’s.
Cruz, ranked first in the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings, scored an A+ by NumbersUSA while third-ranked Rubio was awarded a D+ for supporting policies that rewarded illegal immigration, did not reduce chain migration illegal immigration, and failed to rein in refugee and asylum fraud.
“Cruz’s record on immigration reform has been pretty consistent since he has been in the Senate: He has opposed amnesty for illegal aliens and supported stronger enforcement,” Ira Mehlman, media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform said.
Mehlman said Rubio’s voting record is less consistent than Cruz’s. Rubio now opposes the 2013 bill he cosponsored and is vague on other issues important to immigration hawks, including the DREAM Act and President Obama’s executive actions.
