The reason for the latter? Because immigration creates a whole new protected class they can make dependent on the system. According to a new study by the Center for Immigration Studies, we now have data to back it up.

Some key findings:

The average household headed by an immigrant (legal or illegal) costs taxpayers $6,234 in federal welfare benefits, which is 41 percent higher than the $4,431 received by the average native household.

The average immigrant household consumes 33 percent more cash welfare, 57 percent more food assistance, and 44 percent more Medicaid dollars than the average native household. Housing costs are about the same for both groups.

Before you read the rest, trigger-warning: uncomfortable truths about certain immigrants from certain countries. You've been warned.