I find it hard to believe that it would be bad for the US overall to let highly skilled people come here and work. They would increase innovation, grow the econ

I find it hard to believe that it would be bad for the US overall to let highly skilled people come here and work. They would increase innovation, grow the economy and raise employment as immigrants have done throughout US history. However I have to admit it would probably reduce the wages of similarly skilled existing workers at least in the short run. This is basic supply and demand: more supply means lower prices at least in the short run. For example would skilled US programmers be paid as much if any skilled programmer in the world could come here compete for their job? Probably not just look at the prices for contract programmers in India, Eastern Europe, China, etc. However in the long run almost everyone should be better off because the flip side of lower prices is greater volume: more innovation, economics growth and employment as well as lower prices. There are other less understood benefits such as immigrants increased likelihood to start businesses. Also in the long run it won't matter as much where people are located. Eventually most US skilled workers will be competing with similarly skilled workers throughout the world. So we might want to adapt to this future reality now as it will only get harder in the future. People piling up student loans need to know what future wages will be. Overall I think we should be willing to take the risk and accept some disruption now. It should help almost everyone in the long run and it will happen in some form anyway. But I can understand people's reluctance to personally bare the costs.