Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's assertion that illegal immigration is "an act of love" ignores the "heartbreaking" reality of its inhumanity, Sen. Ted Cruz said Monday night.
In an interview on CNN's
"The Lead With Jake Tapper," the Texas Republican said the desire of immigrants to come to the United States to better themselves and their families "is positive."
"What isn't positive is breaking the law," Cruz said. "In my view, we need to be a nation that welcomes those coming here legally."
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“If you come down to Texas and you see the conditions where –– you see photographs that are heartbreaking, of bodies of women and children left abandoned in the desert because they entrusted themselves to transnational global criminal cartels who smuggle them in, who assault them, who leave them to die, this is not a humane system," he said.
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He said the nation needs to "secure the borders . . . so people can come to America consistent with the law."
Bush, who is considered a possible 2016 GOP candidate for the White House, has come under fire from some conservatives after his argument Sunday that illegal immigrants haven't committed a felony.
"Yes, they broke the law, but it's not a felony," he said. "It's an act of love, it's an act of commitment to your family."
Cruz disagreed.
"We need to be a nation that welcomes and celebrates legal immigrants, people who follow the rules and come here according to the law," he said.
"Rule of law matters," he said. "And if you look at any sovereign nation, securing your border is critically important.
"We need to solve the problem to secure the borders and then improve and streamline legal immigration so people can come to America consistent with the rule of law."
Cruz also took a shot at "Washington elites" attempting to pick the next Republican nominee, saying they just want a candidate who “won’t rock the boat,” adding that the only way Republicans can hope for victory is “to have a candidate who runs as a strong conservative.”
"I don't think Washington elites are going to be very effective picking the nominee," he said. "I think it's going to be, quite rightly, a decision for the grassroots to make."
Cruz is considered a potential 2016 presidential candidate, and is a favorite of tea party groups.
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