Thread: Ted Cruz: ‘We’re Going To Build A Wall’

by MICHELLE MOONS
6 Feb 2016
546 comments

Presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) laid out a strategy to “build a wall” along the United States border as a paramount portion of his plan to solve illegal immigration.

During Saturday night’s Republican Presidential debate in New Hampshire he added, referring to Donald Trump, “I’ve got somebody in mind to build it.”

Moderator David Muir asked Cruz about his immigration plan and how he would deal with “11.5 million undocumented people.”

Cruz responded:

"So, in terms of a practical solution, I’ve laid out the most detailed plan for solving illegal immigration. It’s 11 pages, single-spaced, chapter and verse. It’s on our website, tedcruz.org."

"In short, we’re going to do, we’re going to build a wall. We’re going to triple the border patrol. We’re going to increase — and actually, since Donald enjoyed that, I will simply say, I’ve got somebody in mind to build it."

"We’re going to increase four-fold, the fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, so that you have technology monitoring an attempted incursion to direct the boots on the ground where they’re occurring. We’re going to put in place a strong e-verify system in the workplace, so you can’t get a job without proving you are here legally."

"We’ll put in place a biometric exit-entry system on visas, because 40 percent of illegal immigration comes not over the border illegally, but people coming on visas and overstaying."

"We will end sanctuary cities by cutting off taxpayer dollars to any jurisdiction that defies federal immigration law."

After audience applause Cruz added, “And we will end welfare benefits for those here illegally.”

Muir tried to push Cruz asking how he would deal with those families in the U.S. illegally.

Cruz replied:

"What you do is, you enforce the law. You know, under the Constitution, the president has an obligation to, quote, “Take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” Federal immigration law provides, if someone is here illegally and is apprehended, they are to be deported."

"We saw just this past week the head of the border patrol union testify before Congress that President Obama had given the order to the border patrol to stand down, not to enforce the law. That is wrong. I will enforce the law, and for everyone who says, you can’t possibly do that, I would note that in eight years, Bill Clinton deported 12 million people."

"In eight years, George W. Bush deported 10 million people. Enforcing the law — we can do it. What is missing is the political will. And when they were deporting the people, the border wasn’t secure, so they’d come right back. Once you secure the border, enforcing the law will solve this problem and that will benefit American workers."

The three main points of the Cruz Immigration plan are:

•First, secure the border, once and for all. No other reform is meaningful if we do not fix our porous southern border.

•Second, strengthen and enforce our existing immigration laws. We must reverse President Obama’s enforcement “priorities,” which allow a large number of criminal aliens to unlawfully remain in the United States.

•Third, pursue reforms to the legal-immigration system that will prioritize the interests and well-being of Americans. As a nation built by those fleeing persecution and seeking freedom, we must once against welcome and celebrate legal immigrants while at the same time protecting American jobs and interests.

Cruz’s full Immigration Plan can be found on tedcruz.org.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...-build-a-wall/

Sounds like a good and workable plan to me.

Yea, sounds like the Trump plan to me lol You have to admit that the Cruz campaign has tried to mirror Trump on many of these immigration issues.

W

I just can't really trust Cruz though with some of his flip-flops over the past few years. I hope he has the balls and does what he's saying but I just get the feeling he will just blame Congress and not do anything saying he can't (complete BS). Hope I'm wrong though.

I'd like to see Cruz get his eligibility issue out of the way by getting a federal court to rule on it. Then hope that when comes down to running in the general elections its Trump with Cruz as the VP pick. I think Trump would do well for keeping Cruz from flipping along with an excuse for Cruz in the form of *well I was told to do it that way*.

FYI:

Cruz repeated his inflated claim that Bill Clinton “deported 12 million people” and George W. Bush “deported 10 million people” over their presidencies, respectively. Based on Department of Homeland Security figures for “removals,” which are defined as “the compulsory and confirmed movement of an inadmissible or deportable alien out of the United States based on an order of removal,” there were more than 827,100 people removed, or deported, during the fiscal years that span Clinton’s two-terms in office (FY 1993-FY 2000) and more than 2 million people during the fiscal years when Bush was in office most of the time (FY 2001-FY 200Eight). In order to get somewhat close to the figures Cruz mentioned, one would have to include the number of “returns” under those presidents, not just the “removals.” A return occurs when an apprehended immigrant leaves the U.S. voluntarily before being ordered to do so through a formal removal proceeding.

http://www.factcheck.org/2016/02/fac...th-gop-debate/

I have scoured Trumps plan to deport illegal immigrants on his immigration section of his website and found nothing to match in writing what he has said publicly regarding the deportation of all illegal immigrants. Criminals will be deported and yes, the visa overstay issue will be addressed, but no where have I found the mass deportation section of illegal immigrants that he has talked about and come under fire for. I am just unable to locate it on the plan, please help if you know where it is.

Under Ted's plan, of the bulk of illegal immigrants here, unless you are apprehended for something else, you will be able to stay indefinitely until you are apprehended. As long as you are behaving and here illegally, you can stay indefinitely under Cruz plan. Although it may not be a path to citizenship, is it a form of amnesty? Please correct if inaccurate, thank you.

Originally Posted by joe s

Under Ted's plan, of the bulk of illegal immigrants here, unless you are apprehended for something else, you will be able to stay indefinitely until you are apprehended. As long as you are behaving and here illegally,stay indefinitely under Cruz plan. Although it may not be a path to citizenship, is it a form of amnesty? Please correct if inaccurate, thank you.

No, Cruz's plan is not a form of amnesty. He says he will enforce ALL of our immigration laws as written. That definitely is not amnesty. He will not allow illegals to work in this country because that is the law. Removing their ability to work means those that came here to work will be forced to leave on their own. If you can't feed, house, and care for your family ... you'll go home. If you can't work to send money back to your family ..... you'll go home.

Understood, the point I am trying to make is this: These people have been able to work for cash, rent homes, etc....and stay out of trouble, not all but many. Cruz is not seeking them out, but waiting until they do something and are apprehended for it. At that point, he will then deport ascertaining upon arrest that they are actually here illegally or undocumented. You can literally have millions of illegal immigrants stay here for many years if they do nothing to be apprehended for, that is my point. I know it is not amnesty as we know it, but would you agree that if millions of them (stay under the radar) do not get apprehended indefinitely, then they could stay indefinitely under his plan?

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Yea, sounds like the Trump plan to me lol You have to admit that the Cruz campaign has tried to mirror Trump on many of these immigration issues.

W

Actually, I believe you'll find Ted Cruz has always supported most of the things he's calling for. He's was working on many of these issues before his bid to run for President (of course he has always met resistance from the Senate). Trump has gotten all the publicity from the media because of his run for President.

Trump has never really defined exactly how his wall will be designed other than say it will have a big beautiful gate. Cruz was calling for the completion of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 fence before his bid and has submitted an amendment for its completion.

Of course Trump's plan to deport illegals has a couple caveats that can't be ignored. Number one on that list is the expedited return of the "good ones," of which he says there are many. He also supports a merit-based system for allowing those that have been here a long time to stay. Last, but not least, he said during an interview that we have to give the illegals a path. A path to what, I don't know, but that comment is concerning.

Oh, and let's not forget, Cruz has said he will end all of Obama's unlawful executive orders his first day in office. He has specifically said that includes the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Thank you for the response. I have scoured both of their plans on their respective websites to compare and contrast what is in writing versus what is being verbalized. With all due respect, I just don't think you answered the question regarding Cruz' deportation policy. I will try it another way, but I think you understand the question. An illegal immigrant residing in the US right now under the Cruz policy would only be deported if he/she is apprehended for some other offense and at the time of apprehension, it would be discovered that they are here illegally and then would qualify for deportation. In essence, you would basically need to arrest 11M illegal immigrants for another reason and then they would be on the road to deportation. Trying to keep it very simple and I understand Cruz' desire is to follow the existing law. His comprehensive policy is clearly a move in the right direction as both candidates are.

Back to Trump, I just could not find in anything in writing on his website that specifically addressed a mass deportation. It is given on my questions that both of their comprehensive plans to address deportations of criminals immediately and possibly other categories, but looking for a little help on Trumps mass deportation plan in writing? Thank in advance for any clarifications.