simple clarity. i oppose amnesty. i oppose citizenship. i oppose legalization for illegal aliens. i always have. and i always will. >> reporter: cruz is trying to keep the focus on rubio admitting for the first time in a debate he stands by his plan allowing undocumented immigrants to become citizens. >> senator, you haven't answered the question. you just described the very long path, but does that path end at citizenship? >> i've answered that question repeatedly. i personally am open to allowing people to a ply for a green card. >> today cruz amplified an attack he debuted against rubio at cnn's debate that rubio supporter barack obama and chuck schumer's amnesty bill, cruz was hoping that would be the immigration story line out of the debate, but rubio successfully deflected that or at least muddled it a bit by trying to make cruz look hypocritical by painting his position, jim, on legal status as actual true position and not