american citizens and states with massive numbers of immigrants have much higher welfare rates than others. california being the most obvious example. so it's not an informed statement. >> it is because when you look at studies by economists across the political spectrum, you find that states controlling for other variables have more immigrants, do not have larger welfare states. yes, california is a large welfare state. texas, has a large percentage of immigrants has smaller welfare state than most other states. >> tucker: widow studies are conducted which i think is dishy immigrant welfare recipients only to poor americans and say immigrants are less likely to receive welfare but overall, they're more likely. california has 12% of the nation's population but has 33% of federal welfare recipients. that's because it immigration. with the other because? >> even if you compare per capita welfare spending overall in states with more immigrants compared to the west, those who have more do not have more