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The fact that the illegal laborers are here simply means that they will be exploited (and for some to their own delight-given conditions back home). This follows basic economic sense: that of asset utilization since labor is a component of the production function.

What remains to be seen is whether this illegal 'labor' component is contributing in the expansion of the economy or having a dampening effect on wages throughout the economy by being in surplus.

An economy awash in 'low-wage' greenbacks (interest rates) and a surplus of 'wetbacks' that isn't humming along at impressive growth rates has other problems that need to be addressed (too much government, for instance).

If every illegal worker were sent packing tomorrow, the drain on the labor pool would be so great that it would cause businesses to raise wages significantly in an effort to attract replacements. Over time equilibrium would be restored, however, the shock would be too great for many businesses to absorb and so, any plan to remove illegal labor should probably be gradual (similar to the way interest rates move). If taxes decreased at the same rate that labor costs went up, businesses could then handle the transition fairly well, but we know that that can't happen.

In summary, Americans have allowed government to grow to such an extent that they can no longer afford the burden (along with all the other burdens life allows) without the importation of cheap, illegal labor to produce the bottom line needed to remain solvent. And when you pour enough water into a glass of Jack Daniels, is soon ceases to be JD.