Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz says he is strongly against the idea of authorities conducting deportation raids on undocumented immigrants.

The Texas senator, who for the past few weeks has been endorsing the deportation of undocumented immigrants, told CNN's Jake Tapper that the U.S. government should follow normal law enforcement practices in apprehending those who came to the country illegally.

"No, I don't intend to send jackboots to knock on your door and every door in America. That's not how we enforce the law for any crime," said Cruz. "That's not how the American law enforcement system works. We also don't have people going door to door looking for murderers. We don't live in a police state."

A few days ago, BuzzFeed captured the GOP candidate on video arguing that his plan was stronger than Donald Trump's because it would not allow undocumented people to go back to the U.S.

Cruz stressed that he would only deport immigrants who are apprehended, such as those who commit crimes or are caught applying for jobs without the necessary papers to show for. He would also allow Immigrations and Custom Enforcement or Border Patrol agents to apprehend those along the border.

With regards to his eligibility to run for president, the 45-year-old statesman distanced himself from his Canadian roots, asserting that his family never voted there.

"The Internet has all sorts of fevered swamp theories, but the facts are simple," said Cruz. "My mom was born in Wilmington, Delaware. She was an American citizen by birth. She's been an American citizen all 81 years of her life. She's never been a citizen of any other place."

As far as his citizenship is concerned, Cruz believes he is more than qualified to be president. However, this hasn't stopped Donald Trump and other Republicans from constantly bringing up the issue.

"You've got to get a declaratory judgment," the business magnate said, via The Guardian. "You have to have the courts come up with a ruling or you have a candidate who just cannot run because the other side will immediately bring suit and you've got that cloud on your head."

Cruz's interview with CNN was on board his campaign bus during a tour through Iowa, where he leads the pool of GOP candidates ahead of the state's February caucuses. An NBC poll released over the weekend showed Cruz having 28 percent support to Trump's 24 percent.

Trump, however, leads the Republican field nationally and in the other key early voting state of New Hampshire. At a recent rally in Clear Lake, the real estate mogul clarified his comment about Cruz by saying, "I don't want to win this way. I want to win fair and square."