It is one of the more tragic aspects of the rise of the welfare state in the U.S. that we feel the need to restrict immigration. You can't throw open the doors and at the same time be willing to support those who come and aren't productive. Eliminate such programs and there remains no rational basis for objection to mass immigration.

I'm aware that some object to skilled people immigrating and "taking away jobs," but this is just garden-variety stupidity, as against objecting to supporting immigrants, which is in my opinion a reasonable stance given the current state of government.