at least the playing field is levelled and the govt gets a cut of the law breaker's profits.
As for "leveling the playing field" that should not be the Gov't's mission in life. I don't think we need the Gov't any more complicit in benefiting from illegals. What would result would be plenty more illegals with the Gov't skimming the profits off the top by selling "Get out of Jail Free cards".
"at least the playing field is levelled and the govt gets a cut of the law breaker's profits."
No, not really. It just provides additional incentives not to get caught. The businesses that we're talking about are unethical, by definition. They should be treated as such, and the fines should be in line with that.
You'd be singing a different tune if you were a competitor that employed American citizens and was run out of business by someone employing, and underpaying illegals.