A new study released by the libertarian Cato Institute shows that immigrants are remarkably politically similar to native-born Americans. The study throws water on the often-used argument that immigrants are mostly liberals who will shift the electorate to support big-government policies.

“The political differences between immigrants and native-born Americans are small and, in most cases, so small that they are statistically insignificant,” the study said. “The descendants of immigrants rapidly assimilate into America’s political culture by adopting mainstream ideologies, political party identifications, and policy positions held by longer-settled Americans. … Immigrants, they and their descendants are unlikely to alter America’s aggregate political attitudes.”