"It certainly doesn't excuse their employers whose only interested in the cheap labor as close to or below slave wages as possible."
They aren't cheap in wages paid, at least in So. Calif.
From what I understand there isn't one of them that will work for under $10/hr plus transportation and lunch.
As far as construction, they are paid $18-20+/hr. cash. In construction even if the contractor reports his entire gross and deducts none of his cash payroll he comes out way ahead paying the top personal income tax against the added costs of at least 125% over the paid wage on a legal employee.
Thanks. I saw an example of a hedge trimmer who made $10 in Mexico but $14 in LA. I know that there are meat packing plants in the Midwest who hire ilegals because there is noone else in sparsely populated state. I guess, if tis passes, we should fire up the helicopters that rescued the Katrina victims and empty out some more big city ghettos, but frankly rural areas are not looking for those problems.