Even though many (if not most) Americans think they do.
The irony is that for all the overexcited debate, the net effect of immigration is minimal (about a one tenth of 1 percent gain in gross domestic product, according to Hanson). Even for those most acutely affected—say, low-skilled workers, or California residents—the impact isn’t all that dramatic. “The shrill voices have tended to dominate our perceptions,” says Daniel Tichenor, a political science professor at the University of Oregon. “But when all those factors are put together and the economists crunch the numbers, it ends up being a net positive, but a small one.” Too bad most people don’t realize it.
Enjoy the Newsweek piece and see how the author arrives at that conclusion. I’ll only add- xenophobia is inappropriate in decent societies. And it is especially, especially improper for Christians. ‘I was a stranger and you took me in…’ should ring non stop in every xenophobic ear.
