A new report by the Center for Immigration Studies found that over three-quarters of immigrant households with children are on welfare, far above the percent of native-born families. 

The report, released Wednesday, found that 51% of "immigrant-led households" take advantage of at least one form of welfare entitlement (Medicaid, food stamps, school lunches, housing assistance, etc.). That percentage is more than 20% higher than native-born households (30%).  

CIS found that that number increased dramatically for immigrant-led households with children, a stunning 76% of which received some type of welfare benefit (compared to 52% for the native-born).

"This should not be understood as some kind of defect or moral failing on the part of immigrants," said CIS director of research Steven Camarota. "Rather, what it represents is a system that allows a lot of less-educated immigrants to settle in the country, who then earn modest wages and are eligible for a very generous welfare system."

Linda Chavez, president of the Becoming American Institute, a conservative group that promotes increased legal immigration, called the findings "less worrisome" than they might appear because immigrants often have larger households, making it more likely someone in the family will receive benefits and that while immigrants might start off poorer, they will eventually elevate their financial status.

But the latter argument does not comport with CIS' findings, which show that the percentage of immigrants on welfare does not decrease significantly over time. "Welfare use is high for both new arrivals and well-established immigrants," concludes CIS. "Of households headed by immigrants who have been in the country for more than two decades, 48 percent access welfare."