Cruz refuses to condemn anti-immigrant rhetoric but slams 'unprecedented hatred' at Trump

WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) doubled down in joining former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) in attacking immigrants and blasted what he called "unprecedented hatred" against Trump.

Speaking to Raw Story on Tuesday in Washington, Cruz, who is in a tight race against Democratic Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), defended the former president, saying "There has been unprecedented hatred directed at [former] President Trump."

"I think the left has lost its mind," he said.

After slamming his rival party, Cruz then said that "personal vilification" has become too "commonplace in this country."

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When Raw Story asked him about Democratic criticism that anti-immigrant rhetoric and conspiracy theories led to dozens of bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, Cruz refused to condemn the rhetoric and instead accused Democrats and news organizations of failing to stay on topic.

"Democrats are very eager to change the subject from the massive human suffering caused by their open border policies," Cruz said.

Texans experience that crisis daily, he said.

"We see the victims of murder and sexual assault from illegal immigrants that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have released. And they're releasing them every single day," Cruz claimed.

The crime rate by immigrants is lower than the crime rate by American citizens, and the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research went so far as to call the tie a "myth" last year.

"Elected Democrats and many in the media want to do everything they can to change the subject to anything else other than talking about Jocelyn Nungaray, other than talking about Laken Riley, other than talking about Rachel Morin," said Cruz.

He continued to mention victims of crimes that authorities have said were committed at the hands of people who were in the country unlawfully.

Cruz used the term "released," however, current law states that when a migrant presents themselves at the border and is given a court date to reappear and plead their case. No laws close that loophole other than declaring a national emergency, a move Biden made earlier this year.

Legislation crafted by Republicans in Congress would have closed many loopholes, but Trump told Republicans not to vote for it, leading the bill to flop. It was regarded as the first real chance at immigration reform in over a decade.