The US doesn't give immigrants welfare, and they pay taxes, so that would be difficult.

False. Immigrants are eligible for various social benefits, food stamps, health care, etc.

Many recent US immigrants are asylum seekers. They do receive substantial government cash payments and free housing (i.e. welfare). I am generally pro immigration, but let's be clear about the cost.

https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/refugees/programs-and-...

Let’s also not pretend that “free housing” is NOT a major transfer of wealth from the government to landlords.

People would likely be less annoyed if the “free housing” was more akin to government owned military barracks instead of subsidized rent to private enterprise.

Find me a republican voter that will sign off on the government building the new housing stock.

Your perception does not make anything a reality. Many nations commit more to immigration and welfare than the US, and are benefiting from it.

Skilled migrants bring wealth with them, and in fact countries like Australia have avoided recession through immigration (and unemployment is still around 4%).

I’m certain that absolutely no one is referring to “skilled migrants” when participating in these discussions of limiting immigration.