In the Republican presidential debate on CNN Thursday night, Ted Cruz fired at Donald Trump's prior reality show career while explaining his immigration policies he would implement as president.
Wolf Blitzer asked Cruz what would happen to children that are U.S.-born citizens when their undocumented parents would be deported and not allowed to re-enter.
Cruz started by citing pre-existing law on this issue.
"I really find it amazing that Donald believes that he is the one who discovered the issue of illegal immigration," Cruz said. "I can tell you, when I ran for Senate here in the state of Texas, I ran promising to lead the fight against amnesty, promising to fight to build a wall. And in 2013, when I was leading the fight against the Gang of Eight amnesty bill, where was Donald? He was firing Dennis Rodman on Celebrity Apprentice.
"But Donald funded the Gang of Eight. If you look at the eight members of the Gang of Eight, Donald gave over $50,000 to three Democrats and two Republicans. And when you're funding open border politicians, you shouldn't be surprised when they fight for open borders."
After this statement, Cruz told the audience at the University of Houston about his past record, which included fighting to secure the borders and fighting against amnesty.
He ended his response by saying, "and by the way, Marco is exactly right, that a federal court found Donald guilty of being part of a conspiracy to hire people illegally and entered a $1 million judgment against him."
Full exchange below:
WOLF BLITZER: Senator Cruz, you say you want to deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants, but you never want to allow them to come back to the United States. What would happen to the children who are U.S.-born citizens whose parent will be deported under your plan?
TED CRUZ: Well, existing law provides that those who are deported cannot come back here legally. U.S. citizens can come back. That's existing law. But let me say, Wolf, I really find it amazing that Donald believes that he is the one who discovered the issue of illegal immigration. I can tell you, when I ran for Senate here in the state of Texas, I ran promising to lead the fight against amnesty, promising to fight to build a wall, and in 2013, when I was leading the fight against the Gang of Eight amnesty bill, where was Donald? He was firing Dennis Rodman on Celebrity Apprentice. And indeed, if you look at the Gang of Eight, one individual on this stage broke his promise to the men and women who elected him and wrote the amnesty bill. But, Donald funded the Gang of Eight. If you look at the eight members of the Gang of Eight, Donald gave over $50,000 to three Democrats and two Republicans. And, when you're funding open border politicians, you shouldn't be surprised when they fight for open borders. And I think if you want to know who actually will secure the borders and follow through, you ought to ask, ‘who has a record before they were a candidate for president, of fighting to secure the borders and stop amnesty?’ And I'm the only one on this stage that has that record. And by the way, Marco is exactly right, that a federal court found Donald guilty of being part of a conspiracy --
BLITZER: Thank you.
CRUZ: -- to hire people illegally and entered a $1 million judgment against him.