2016 Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz has adopted a new hardline approach to immigration that includes putting a halt on even legal immigration in the U.S.

Despite being a longtime advocate for legal immigration, the Texas senator proposed adding new restrictions on legal immigration during a campaign event in Florida on Friday. Prior to the event, Cruz has called for the government to expand the visa program for foreign workers and promoted the economic benefits that immigrants bring to the country. In the past, he has also said that he "celebrates" legal immigration and wants to streamline the process.

"There is no stronger advocate for legal immigration in the U.S. Senate than I am," Cruz said while speaking at a United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce event in April, according to The Weekly Standard.

Cruz also boasted about his amendment to the 2013 immigration reform bill that would have boosted the number of H1B visas for high-skilled workers from 65,000 to 325,000 on a yearly basis.

However, under the new Cruz plan, he is calling for the government to put a freeze on legal immigration for as long as the rate of U.S. employment remains "below historic averages," reports NBC News. He went on to argue that immigrants might "displace American workers."

In addition, Cruz said the government should suspend workers from issuing H1B visas for 180 days in order to crack down on abuse of the program despite the fact that he had previously advocated for a 500 percent increase in the high-tech program.

"Legal immigration needs to be structured so that it serves America's needs," said Cruz, according to CNN. "We welcome people from all over the world, but we shouldn't welcome people defying and gaming our laws."

The 2016 hopeful also called for an end to birthright citizenship in his 11-page plan. The Tea Party favorite, however, did not mention a strategy to deal with the 11 million undocumented immigrants that currently reside on U.S. soil illegally.