The position that you state is true....however that was a position taken that was a CHANGED POSITION that I feel was politically calculated to go with the times. In his OWN WORDS he stated he changed his own view so no it is NOT bull crap.
Yes, it is bullcrap. I was paying keen attention during the Gang of 8 Immigration battles.
Ted Cruz was a shiny new thing for me, at the time - And he was four-square perfect as a Conservative - Brilliantly so.
So when his H1B rider happened, I was terribly offended.
So not only was I really paying attention, but I was mortally pissed off too.
So I followed the whole thing in real time.
I soon found out that everyone from the OTHER side were pissed at Cruz for it, and the stalwarts that I rely upon were happy for it.
The Dems commenting at the time called it a poison pill
The press commenting on it at the time called it a poison pill.
The RINOs at the time called it a poison pill.
It is the first time I witnessed Cruz jackin' them up, And seeing it was a great relief, once it became clear to me what was going on. so it is ready in my recollection.
So I would say his later comments on the campaign trail were damage control.
I think his record was getting stretched out of shape, and the hammering of the press and Rubio elicited an acceptance and regrouping - simply because the uninformed would not readily understand the explanation, nor check the record.
That's how I see it.