This article is after the gang of eight fight, so it's entirely irrelevant. But as for Sessions, I suspect Breitbart, lazy as they are, were asking him leading questions about amnesty and the pathway to citizenship, not on legalization.
Though, for that matter, no one on the Republican side at that time was opposing legalization, provided it occurred after the border was secured:
Even Rush Limbaugh was publicly for legalization and opposed deportation, claiming it was "unrealistic":
"I have never said, whatever number are here illegally, "Round 'em up and deport 'em." It isn't realistic. We have to stop the influx. So you can't pose a question to me, "Okay, Mr. Limbaugh, after we secure the borders..." the borders are key. And then we come up with a plan, I could give you two or three of them that would help legalize these people if they're willing to assimilate. We don't want a Balkanized America, and that's what this is leading to. It's just a matter of following the law"
Sessions can state that Cruz was with him "every step of the way" (except when Cruz voted down Session's amendments), and yet not save Ted Cruz from his characterization of legalization of illegal aliens as part of "common sense immigration reform".
Doing things to encourage a self-deport would help.
I like to look at the problem from unusual angles too.
Why in the world is Mexico (say) WANTING to export people? (and yes, they do... they openly print literature encouraging it). That doesn’t say a lot for Mexico. Could Trump sit down with those guys and say that as long as you keep doing this, it is the worst of both worlds for both of us? You’re killing your home morale, believe it or not, by treating your people that cheap. And you’re saddling us with an impossible welfare burden.
And then start airing ads in Spanish over here asking “Aren’t you homesick?” And showing various features of Mexico like they would to tourists. And playing the Mexican national anthem. The soft sell (on top of everything else).
Get Mexicans to love Mexico again and you’ve pretty well taken care of the battle.
The article where Sessions said Cruz was with him was also after the gang of eight fight. Notice the past tense.