There are many different speculative scenarios that Herbert J. Gans explores while discussing future hierarchical transformations. If, for example, unemployment and the decline of real income worsened, what would be the resulting effect on immigrants?

A. Immigrants’ value as low-wage workers would increase their utility in a struggling economy, causing a rise in immigrant part-time employment.
B. Immigrants would be the first to experience pay cuts and benefit cuts, but they would not lose their jobs in greater numbers than dominant group members.
C. Immigrants would be seen as vital assets and hard workers, and would experience an increase in job opportunities relative to the dominant group.
D. Immigrants would experience persistent poverty and downward mobility as dominant group members receive preference for scarce job openings.

D. Immigrants would experience persistent poverty and downward mobility as dominant group members receive preference for scarce job openings.