Studies show immigrants boosts pay

So much for taking American jobs

In the wage study, Peri examined immigration flows and wages of California workers between 1960 and 2004 using U.S. Census data.

It found that immigrants did not worsen the job opportunities of natives with similar education and experience during the entire period.

The benefit for native-born workers ranged from a 0.2% wage increase for high school dropouts to 6.7% for those with some college, the study showed.

However, the study found that other immigrants suffered wage declines by as much as 20%.

"The findings would seem to defuse one of the most inflammatory issues for those who advocate measures aimed at 'protecting the livelihood of American citizens,' " the study said.

As studies like this (and another mentioned in the the same article finding that the immigrant population has a far lower incarceration rate than native populations) roll in, it's going to be harder and harder to justify an anti-immigration stance that's not based on narrowmindedness.