Ted Cruz unveils immigration plan
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Friday released a comprehensive immigration plan that he would execute as president that would severely limit legal immigration, but it doesn't explicitly address what should happen to the 11 million illegal immigrants who have been living in the U.S.
At a rally in Orlando, Florida, the GOP presidential candidate unveiled the plan and posted it on his campaign website.
"A strong President can and must secure the border. Under current law, there is more than enough legal authority to do so; what is missing is the political will. In the Senate, I have stood consistently with the majority of Americans against amnesty and lawlessness, and I will do the same as President," said Cruz, who has been trading barbs over immigration with his GOP rival Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida.
Cruz said his first priority would be to secure the border by building "a wall that works" along the border with Mexico, tripling the number of border patrol agents, increasing aerial surveillance and increasing the amount of equipment and technology at the border.
The toughest part of his plan would reform the legal immigration system. Cruz said, for example, that his administration would call on Congress to pass legislation that would set up a points-based system to prioritize "those who aspire to achieve the American dream." Some of the criteria include certain language skills, civilian service or military skills, formal education and training and ties to the U.S.
Cruz also said he would freeze current legal immigration levels while unemployment remains high.
"Under no circumstances should legal immigration levels be adjusted upwards so long as work-force participation rates remain below historical averages," his plan says.
The Texas Republican said he would require all legal immigrants and their sponsors to demonstrate "compelling evidence that they have the education and professional tools to provide for themselves and their families." And he said his administration would evaluate foreign worker programs.
While he laid out a plan to make existing immigration laws stricter, he made no mention of what should happen to the 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally.
Cruz said he would end President Obama's "amnesty" program, though he didn't elaborate what he was referring to specifically. He said his administration would return illegal immigrants caught at the borders and ports and return them to their native country.
He said he would expand detention space in the U.S., deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and charge people who overstay their visas. Cruz said illegal immigrants would also be banned from receiving financial benefits from the government.
In addition, he said he would end birthright citizenship and prevent children whose parents entered the U.S. illegally from automatically earning U.S. citizenship.
Cruz said he would also suspend H-1B visas for 180 days while an audit evaluating abuse within the program is conducted. It allows U.S. employers to recruit and employ foreign workers.
The presidential contender's plan comes as he spars with Rubio over their immigration records and Donald Trump comes under fire for his immigration vision to deport the millions of people living in the U.S. illegally.
