The Importance of Numbers in the Welfare State

CNN's John Sutter has a new book, and he argues with Milton Friedman on the issue of immigration. He says that even if Friedman had looked at the numbers, it would not have made any difference to his view about how many immigrants should be allowed into the U.S. Most immigrants more than pay their way; there are some subcategories that don't. Why try to stop all immigration rather than limit access to the welfare state for native people?