Ted Cruz responds to Rep. Ilhan Omar's claim that Latinos couldn't hack it in a merit-based immigration system
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) weighed in on Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-Minn.) recent claim that implementing a merit-based immigration system would put Latinos at a disadvantage in seeking U.S. citizenship.
What are the details?
The freshman congresswoman tweeted Tuesday: "A 'merit-based' immigration policy is fueled by racism toward the Latinx community. Our immigration policies shouldn't be based on discrimination, fear, or bigotry. We should welcome immigrants to our country and offer a simple pathway to citizenship."
Omar was presumably voicing her opposition to a recent proposal introduced by President Donald Trump, which Politico reported would implement a point-based merit standard for legal U.S. citizenship. Yet the freshman congresswoman apparently realized her claim of racism had backfired, and deleted the message from her feed — but not before the Daily Wire's Ryan Saavedra captured it for all to see.
Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN) just deleted this tweet where she appeared to suggest that Latinos can't measure up in a "merit-based" immigration system. pic.twitter.com/ak9EKVdN0i— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 29, 2019
Conservative pundit Michelle Malkin also shared Omar's comments, pointing out the irony in the freshman congresswoman's claim.
America vs. Omar-ica. https://t.co/iQKGzZfuih— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) May 29, 2019
So Ms. Smarty Pants @ilhanmn deleted her tweet, cuz she finally realized that in accusing the President of raaaaaaaaaaacism, she was sounding mighty raaaaaaaaaacist herself. pic.twitter.com/10ojMOpHl2— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) May 29, 2019
Sen. Cruz reacted to Omar's comments by saying, "As the son of a Cuban immigrant whose Dad came to get a math degree & become a computer programmer, I'm troubled that Dems seem to believe Hispanic immigrants can't qualify for skills-based legal immigration. Bringing in more scientists, engineers & doctors is good for U.S. jobs."
As the son of a Cuban immigrant whose Dad came to get a math degree & become a computer programmer, I’m troubled that Dems seem to believe Hispanic immigrants can’t qualify for skills-based legal immigration. Bringing in more scientists, engineers & doctors is good for US jobs. https://t.co/iugniZgJtL— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 29, 2019