Texas Senator Ted Cruz in El Paso

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz will discuss trade in Texas and share his efforts to rollback federal regulations Friday, in El Paso.

Cruz participated in a roundtable discussion with community leaders and the executive board members of the Borderplex Alliance at the DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown El Paso.

The roundtable was closed to the media, but Cruz held a news conference following the meeting. Senator Ted Cruz tells ABC-7 he had a productive meeting with the Borderplex Alliance and business leaders discussing challenges to economic growth.

When speaking to the media, Sen. Cruz spoke about border security and the border wall. He says he supports funding but says his newly introduced legislation, “Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order” or “El Chapo Act” could help foot the bill.

The legislation would require all of the funds seized in criminal forfeiture from drug lords like El Chapo and other traffickers to be used for the border wall and border security. Sen. Cruz says he supports funding the wall but thinks it’s a mistake to view the wall as the only solution and says it must be a comprehensive solution including boots on the ground and technology.

Sen. Cruz tells ABC-7 in the last six months, immigration laws have being enforced and says illegal immigration has dropped 60%. He says he went to McAllen, Texas several months ago and met with agents who told him traffickers now understand the law is now being enforced.

“For eight years, they had a president, they had an administration whose political leadership did not make it their mission they made it harder for them to accomplish it. And the frustration these Border Patrol men and women would express where they’d be out, they’d be risking their lives apprehending sometimes dangerous narco traffickers, coyotes, they’d apprehend them and then within hours they’d be processed through the system and then released.That’s demoralizing when you’re risking your lives and the administration won’t enforce the law,” Sen. Cruz said.

Sen. Cruz also touched on his four priorities this year including tax reform, regulatory reform, the Supreme Court and healthcare.

“I hear everyday from Texans all across our state, I can’t afford health insurance for my family anymore. That is a problem that was caused by our federal government,” Sen. Cruz said.

He says after eight years under the Obama administration, it’s time for change. He says in terms of healthcare, his priorities include expanding options and lowering premiums.

“Under Obamacare, the average families premiums have increased over $5,000 a year.”

Sen. Cruz also telling ABC-7 healthcare has been the biggest job killer for small businesses in Texas. He says during small business roundtables like the one held in El Paso, at least half of small business owners are struggling. He also classified two groups, what he calls the “29ers.” He says those are people working less than 30 hours a week to avoid being considered a full-time employee.

“The 49ers are all of the millions of small businesses that are at 48, 49 employees but they won’t grow to 50 because when they hit 50 employees they fall under Obamacare and go bankrupt. That’s million of small businesses and millions of small jobs for people that are struggling that haven’t happened because of Obamacare.”

Jon Barela, the C.E.O of the Borderplex Alliance says bringing those like Sen. Ted Cruz to El Paso gives business leaders throughout the region a much-needed voice in Washington, D.C. Just last week Senator John Cornyn was also in El Paso for a luncheon and discussion on trade and NAFTA.

“It’s our duty, our responsibility to make sure we’re representing those business voices collectively. Those opinions are vital in passing on advice and counsel to these folks that are in such a high levels of government,” Barela said.

According to the ABC-7 archives, the last time Senator Cruz was in El Paso was in August 2016.