For months Ted Cruz has refused to call for deportation of illegal aliens.  He has called for securing the border but has refused to talk about what to do with illegals already here, saying he would not address that issue until the border is secured.

Well, he has finally addressed what he would do.

Once we secure the border, you stop filling the boat that’s sinking, a number of people start to go home voluntarily every year to be with their families. That population will start shrinking. After that, you deport the criminal illegal aliens. The population continues to shrink. After that, you put in place strong E-verify so those here illegally can’t get jobs. The population continues to shrink. And then once we have finally demonstrated to the American people that we have secured the border, the problem’s solved, it’s not a promise from a politician, it’s not empty words, it’s been done, then and only then, I think we should have a conversation with the American people about what we should do about whatever smaller population remains

 I now think that Cruz's position is pretty clear.  Unlike Donald Trump, he will not massively deport illegal aliens.  He will deport only those who have committed "major" crimes, not counting the crime of entering the country illegally.  Cruz will try to shrink the illegal population by preventing them from getting jobs.  Although Cruz doesn't explicitly say it, it seems that those who remain will then be given some sort of legalized status.  (At least, that's what I get out of "conversation with the American people about what we should do about illegals who remain.")

Unfortunately, I think Cruz's plan is not very realistic.  Many employers will find ways to skirt E-verify and pay illegals under the table, as they currently do.

Most importantly, Cruz says nothing about cutting off welfare for illegal aliens.  Schooling is required by a misguided Supreme Court decision.  Illegals get free medical care in clinics and emergency rooms.  They also get food stamps and other benefits.  Cruz doesn't talk about eliminating any of those benefits.  Furthermore, as many of those benefits are state- or local-driven or ordered by courts, they would be difficult to terminate.

While Cruz imagines only a small number of illegals remaining after the border is secure, I think unless welfare for illegals is ended, it will more likely be a larger number than a smaller one.

That's why I think Donald Trump's approach to illegal immigration, which includes massive deportations and ending birthright citizenship through legislation (unlike Cruz, who believes that it requires a constitutional amendment), deals more effectively with the illegal problem.  That's why I say if you want the illegal problem ended most decisively, vote for Donald Trump; if you want the lowest taxes (Cruz's tax plan is much better), reduced regulations, reduced government spending, and constitutionalist judges, vote for Ted Cruz.  Unfortunately, we can't have both.

This article was written by Ed Straker, senior writer of NewsMachete.com, the conservative news site.