Rupert Murdoch doing the unthinkable: Promoting the Democratic Agenda

[All Along The Watchtower]

The most obvious anti-immigrant talking point is that they push wages down. And that's probably true.

This is one of those commonly accepted beliefs that sounds like "common sense" despite the fact that there's little evidence to support it.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Democrats need more taxpayers. Same thing Reagan wanted for his tax reform.

And more working, taxpaying citizens is a bad thing because........?

The most obvious anti-immigrant talking point is that they push wages down. And that's probably true. We also already have an enormous oversupply of workers. Business would love to be able to hire these folks for peanuts without the risk of bad press.

But isn't one of the biggest reasons immigrant wages are relatively low is that illegals have no recourse for minimum wage/prevailing wage laws, other worker protections, demands for raises, etc. due to the overhanging threat of deportation? I've heard the argument that if that threat is removed they can more freely assert their rights, both in court and in the free enterprise market (switching to better paying jobs easier, etc.).

Absolutely.
So the biggest threat for low-wage Americans are actually illegal workers and not those who have obtained their citizenship and can start demanding livable wages.

No, the biggest threat for low-wage Americans are the people who refuse to pay them a living wage.