Nativists opposed immigration primarily because they believed immigrants threatened economic opportunities, cultural identity, and social cohesion for native-born citizens. They feared that immigrants would take jobs from native workers, lower wages by increasing labor supply, and overburden social welfare systems. Additionally, nativists worried that immigrants wouldn't assimilate, isolating themselves in ethnic communities and refusing to adopt the dominant language and culture. There was also concern that immigration would change or "replace" the native population's cultural and ethnic makeup, which some nativists viewed as a threat to national identity and patriotism. These opposition reasons were often mixed with racial and religious prejudices, such as fears about Catholics or non-white immigrants. Nativists also scapegoated immigrants for crime, housing shortages, and environmental depletion, even though empirical data often contradicted these claims.
In summary, nativists opposed immigration out of economic fears (job competition and welfare costs), cultural anxieties (preserving national identity and language), racial/religious prejudices, and scapegoating immigrants for societal problems.
