Sen. Ted Cruz took aim at Newsweek for what he said was a “dishonest ‘fact-check’” of his claim that illegal immigrants would receive the $1,400 stimulus check.
“Yet another example of biased, dishonest ‘fact-checking,’” Cruz said. “Newsweek admits ‘Individuals who overstay their visas but pay tax in the United States using a Social Security number may be eligible for stimulus payments.’”
Yet another example of biased, dishonest “fact-checking.”
Newsweek admits “Individuals who overstay their visas but pay tax in the United States using a Social Security number may be eligible for stimulus payments.” https://t.co/FiptnsI5JI
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 9, 2021
Cruz introduced an amendment to the stimulus bill in an effort to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving stimulus checks, justifying the move by saying that “millions of illegal immigrants” will get the checks.
Newsweek took issue with the amendment, rating the senator’s claim as “mostly false.”
“Cruz’s claim that millions of illegal immigrants would receive stimulus payments is not true, although some people who overstay their visas might be eligible for a stimulus payment based on their tax filings,” the publication reported.
Cruz said that Newsweek was ignoring the fact that visa overstays accumulate over many years, meaning millions of those immigrants are now eligible for stimulus checks.
“They also admit 676k visa overstays in a single year,” Cruz said. “They ignore that those accumulate over decades, and 60% of the 12m total illegal aliens are visa overstays.”
“So, they conclude EVERY WORD THAT I SAID IS TRUE (and Dick Durbin’s claims to the contrary are false), but they’re left-wing propagandists, so they still call it ‘mostly false,’” Cruz continued.
So, they conclude EVERY WORD THAT I SAID IS TRUE (and Dick Durbin’s claims to the contrary are false), but they’re left-wing propagandists, so they still call it “mostly false”!
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 9, 2021
Cruz also said Newsweek confused a legal classification with a tax classification in its fact check.
“PLUS Newsweek falsely describes what a ‘lawful resident’ is, saying that group is comprised of lawful permanent residents and those who meet the substantial presence test. That’s false. The later has NOTHING to do with ‘lawful’ ness,” Cruz said.
“It is merely a tax classification which the IRS makes clear. The IRS says, ‘You will be considered a United States resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test for the calendar year,’” Cruz continued. “That’s FOR TAX PURPOSES not immigration purposes.”
It is merely a tax classification which the IRS makes clear.
The IRS says, “You will be considered a United States resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test for the calendar year.”
That’s FOR TAX PURPOSES not immigration purposes.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 9, 2021
Cruz concluded by defending the amendment he introduced.
“And that is the problem with the Dem’s bill and why the amendment was solid,” Cruz said. “So in terms of what should be rated false, it is statements by Newsweek.”
And that is the problem with the Dem’s bill and why the amendment was solid.
So in terms of what should be rated false, it is statements by Newsweek.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 9, 2021
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The Cruz amendment was voted down in the Senate, while the bulk of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package was approved and sent to the House for a final vote in the lower chamber.
