Cruz: ‘Birthright Citizenship as a Policy Matter Doesn’t Make Sense’

DICKERSON: “We also sat down with Texas Senator Ted Cruz before an event at the Iowa Hall of Pride. We began by asking about granting automatic citizenship to the children of undocumented workers.”

[clip starts]

CRUZ: “I think birthright citizenship, as a policy matter, doesn't make sense. We have right now upwards of 12 million people living here illegally. It doesn't make any sense that our law automatically grants citizenship to their children, because what it does is, it incentivizes additional illegal immigration. But the heart of what Donald proposed, and indeed what I have introduced, is we have got to get serious about securing the borders. And if you go and you talk with law enforcement -- as you know, I represent Texas. We have got 1,200 miles of border with Mexico. When you go visit with law enforcement, when you visit with Border Patrol agents about what works, the number one most effective tool that works is boots on the ground. That's why I filed legislation to triple the Border Patrol. I was very glad to see that Donald Trump agrees with that proposal.”

[clip ends]