Sen. Ted Cruz has been, after his erstwhile friend Donald Trump, among the most vociferous voices against America’s current immigration policy. “We must reverse the policies that invite criminals and terrorists to defy the law, allow manipulation of our generous immigration system, and reward illegal immigrants for their actions,” Cruz says on his website. Current policy, according to Cruz, is led by politicians who “endanger our children.”
Cruz himself has a history of immigration. His father was born in Cuba and his mother in Delaware, while the senator was born Rafael Edward Cruz in Calgary, Canada in 1970. Cruz’s mother’s status as an American citizen saved young Ted, who came to the US at the age of four, from having to become a citizen through naturalization. The requirements for US President include being a “natural born citizen” — and since there is no evidence that Cruz was made to go through naturalization when he entered the US, his status is de facto “natural born.” So even though Cruz was born in Canada, it shouldn’t be an issue. But neither then, it follows, should current President Barack Obama‘s birthplace have been an issue, given that his mother was an American citizen — yet everyone knows Obama’s birthplace became an issue. Probably the most high-profile “birther” — those who question Obama’s birthplace (and presidential eligibility) — was Donald Trump. Now that Trump and Ted Cruz are at loggerheads at the top of the GOP, will Trump break out his “birther” argument against Cruz? And will it have legs? Have to wait and see, eh?
