Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, criticized President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., today for their support of amnesty and said they were holding the unaccompanied minors coming across the southern border for “ransom.” Cruz, interviewed on “Fox News Sunday,” said the promise of amnesty is what has driven more than 50,000 young illegal immigrants into the United States.

“I’ll tell you who is holding these kids ransom: It’s Harry Reid and the president,” Cruz said. “Because their view is: Don’t do anything to fix the problem.”

During a speech on the Senate floor Thursday, Reid criticized Republicans for failing to consider a “thoughtful, compassionate solution” to the border crisis. “Radical Republicans,” he continued, “would rather hold these kids ransom.”

Lawmakers are working to devise a solution on how to deal with the flood of unaccompanied minors, most from Central America, who have crossed the Mexican border into Texas since October.