Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) predicted that illegal immigration will begin to “drastically decline” as soon as President-elect Trump takes office early next year.
Mr. Cruz made the remarks Sunday morning during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” with host Margaret Brennan. Cruz argued that the decline would begin within weeks of Trump taking office, citing the president’s plan to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy.
“I predict that we’re going to be in a ‘remain in Mexico’ situation again, and we’ll see. I’m going to predict now. The number of illegal immigrants coming into this country will drop dramatically.” said Mr. Cruz. . “Not in a year or six months, but in January or February, because we’re going to have a president who will vigorously enforce the law.”
Cruz also cited President Trump’s efforts to use tariffs as leverage to get the Mexican government to help halt border traffic. President Trump said he met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum last month and demonstrated her readiness to support his administration.
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Sen. Ted Cruz praised Trump’s efforts to close the border before taking office. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Seneta)
“What hasn’t changed is the importance of leverage. And I have to say, if you look at the tariff threats against Mexico and Canada, (that) took immediate action. “We have seen the president. Mexico stands up and is committed to working with President Trump of the United States to secure our borders,” Cruz said.
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President Trump also said he had a “very productive meeting” with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Mar-a-Lago Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited President-elect Trump at his home in Mar-a-Lago. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
Prime Minister Trudeau flew into Mar-a-Lago unannounced on Friday, days after President Trump threatened to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods. President Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing their failures in efforts to curb illegal immigration and illegal drug flows into the United States.
“We are committed to working together to address the fentanyl and drug crisis that has taken too many lives as a result of illegal immigration, fair trade agreements that do not put American workers at risk, and our massive trade deficit. We discussed many important topics that need to be addressed. The United States is working with Canada,” President Trump wrote on Saturday’s Truth Social.
President Trump has said he will use tariffs to steer allies and adversaries toward his administration’s goals. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
“I have made it clear that the United States can no longer stand by and watch our people fall victim to the scourge of this drug epidemic, caused primarily by drug cartels and fentanyl coming from China. Too much death and suffering!”
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Trump wrote that Trudeau, who has been Canada’s prime minister since 2015, promised to work with the United States to “end this horrific devastation against American families.”
FOX News’ Michael Dorgan contributed to this report
