Sen. Ted Cruz, one of the Republican candidates hoping to earn his party's nomination for president, has been trying to appeal to Latino voters, just as much as any other Republican candidate. In his most recent appearance, the Texas senator claims he has never come across a Latino panhandler.

During a Q&A session with U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Javier Palomarez, Sen. Cruz explained Latinos had conservative values, especially regarding their work ethic, according to Think Progress. 

"Some years ago, I was having lunch with a Hispanic entrepreneur in Austin," the senator said. "He asked me a question. He said, 'When was the last time you saw a Hispanic panhandler?' And that's a great question. You and I grew up in Texas. I don't think I've ever seen a Hispanic panhandler. And the reason is in our community it would be shameful to be begging on the streets."

Sen. Cruz explained work was a conservative value, one many Latinos shared, which is why he believes the Republican Party would be a better fit for many Latinos. However, he explained the Democratic Party were using immigration as a wedge issue to "scare" Latinos into voting for them.

The Texas senator does not believe immigration to be a pressing issue. According to Bloomberg, Sen. Cruz continues to oppose any path to citizenship for any undocumented immigrants, but remains in favor of immigration.

"There is no stronger advocate of legal immigration in the U.S. Senate than I am," he said during the Q&A.

One of his main potential competitors, Jeb Bush, has been more lenient on immigration. On Wednesday, Bush, who has not made his intentions to run official, spoke to the National Christian Hispanic Leadership Conference, according to the Associated Press. 

He stood apart from Sen. Cruz saying the undocumented immigrants in the nation should have an opportunity to become citizens. He explained immigration reform should not only focus on the border, but also the "11 million people that should come out from the shadows and receive earned legal status."

He explained these immigrants should pay their own share of taxes, work, and not received government benefits.

Bush and Sen. Cruz do share some policies, like repealing President Obama's executive orders on immigration. However, Bush is appearing as the one who understands Latinos more.

Bush, unlike Sen. Cruz, can speak Spanish fluently. His policies on immigration reform, albeit still conservative, are not as drastic as Sen. Cruz's, who has called for any path to citizenship "amnesty" and has voted with his party to stall reform in Congress.