Tax-cutting, government-shrinking, regulating-shredding immigration enthusiasts such as Alex Nowrasteh, a researcher at the Cato Institute, are all for opening America’s borders if immigrants and their families are denied access to safety-net benefits such as Medicaid and SNAP. “Well, we absolutely shouldn’t be paying welfare benefits,” Nowrasteh said on a recent appearance on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight. “I don't want to pay welfare benefits to anybody.