“Before Republicans help our Border Patrol agents and all the personnel that’s trying to do something to handle this humanitarian crisis, they want President Obama to deport the DREAMers who are already here, legitimately here,” Reid said. “These are children. But instead of considering a thoughtful, compassionate solution to a real-life crisis on our border, radical Republicans are trying to hold these kids ransom.”

An aide to the Texas freshman explained that his bill would not affect people who have already benefited from the DACA program. “Our bill doesn’t address people who have already received deferred action under DACA,” spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told NRO ahead of the bill’s release.

Cruz’s bill has the advantage of addressing the fundamental cause of the border crisis, as Republicans understand it.