Posted By Alex Pappas On 11:40 AM 08/20/2015


Rick Santorum is singling out rival Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on the issue of immigration.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington on Thursday, the former Pennsylvania senator mentioned the Texas senator’s name three times during a policy speech on immigration. Both Santorum and Cruz are angling for conservative and evangelical voters.

“Whether it was the path to citizenship in the Gang of Eight bill or the right to a permanent work permit supported by Ted Cruz and others, it is amnesty,” Santorum said. “Those workers who serve as grounds keepers or waiters, bartenders and maids, they are the hard-working Americans who are being hurt most by record levels of legal and illegal immigration.”

Speaking of changes to the legal immigration system, Santorum said he would eliminate “both the visa lottery and chain migration.”

“Some like Ted Cruz have actually proposed doubling legal immigration,” Santorum said.

Santorum also said he would overhaul the H1-B visa program so “that only the highest skilled workers who can stimulate the economy, and create more jobs here at home are eligible.”

“Again this is in stark contrast with other Republicans, particularly Ted Cruz, who seeks to increase H1Bs five-fold,” Santorum said.

“I am not new to this debate,” Santorum added. “Nearly a decade ago, I authored border security legislation that stood in contrast to the legislation President Bush and Senator Kennedy advocated.”

http://dailycaller.com/2015/08/20/ri...r-immigration/