Lo and behold, there are Latinos who support Senator Ted Cruz's candidacy for President of the United States. That was the discovery Univision made while covering the Texas Senator's presidential campaign announcement at Liberty University.
Reporting for Noticiero Univisión, correspondent Lourdes Meluzá noted that among others, Cruz aims to capture the support of Evangelical voters, including among the young. Meluzá encountered two such prospective voters of Latino origin, both of whom were enthusiastic at the prospect of a Cruz presidency.
The first young Latino supporter featured in the report was Daniel Solórzano, who said of Cruz “the principal thing is that his values are Christian, that is what impacts me.” Solórzano added that he’s in the process of becoming an American citizen, and concluded of Cruz “I believe my vote will be for him.”
The second Latino student featured in the story, Liberty University student Stephen Hoagland, heaped praise upon a part of Cruz’s speech in which the Senator affirmed his positive view of immigration.
“Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream,” Cruz declared to enthusiastic applause.
That part of Sen. Cruz’s presidential campaign announcement speech, which Hoagland characterized as “very good” was not included in the Univision report.
Univision did catch up with Senator Cruz's father, Cuban immigrant Rafael Cruz, who beamed with pride about his son’s candidacy to become the leader of the free world. The elder Cruz said he is “incredibly proud of the promise of America, of the United States. The United States is the bastion of liberty in the world.”
The English-language version of the cited excerpts from Noticiero Univisión are below, followed by the original Spanish.
DANIEL SOLÓRZANO: The principal thing is that his values are Christian, that is what impacts me and I, well I am about to start my citizenship process, so I believe my vote will be for him.
STEPHAN HOAGLAND: Now that he has said that he will try to make it easier, all those steps, and try to help people who want to immigrate to the United States, I believe that is a very good thing
REV. RAFAEL CRUZ: Incredibly proud of the promise of America, of the United States. The United States is the bastion of liberty in the world.
SEN. TED CRUZ: And imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.
Original Spanish:
DANIEL SOLÓRZANO: Lo principal es que sus principios son cristianos, eso es lo que me impacta… y yo bueno, estoy por hacer mi ciudadanía, y entonces yo pienso que mi voto va ser para él.
STEPHAN HOAGLAND: Ahora que él dijo que va tratar de hacerlo más fácil, todos esos trámites y tratar de ayudar a gente que quiere inmigrar a los Estados Unidos, yo creo que eso es algo muy bueno.
REV. RAFAEL CRUZ: Maravillosamente orgulloso de la promesa de América, de Estados Unidos, Estados Unidos es la pasión de la libertad en el mundo.
SEN. TED CRUZ: Imagina un sistema de inmigración legal que le da la bienvenida y celebra a quienes vienen en busca del sueño americano.
