The dirty little secret is that without the ready availability of off-the-books, under-the-table illegal alien labor, there would be no garment industry in L.A. It isn't something that would ever have come into existence hiring $15.00/hour US citizens.
A lot of people who are proud of their "Made in the USA" labels would be shocked to see how those garments are actually made, and by whom. I should have taken a picture of the row full of "retired Mexican Mafia" guys I saw sitting at the sewing machines at the last factory I visited. Might have made a good campaign ad. :)
I just bought myself a new sewing machine. I used to make all my own clothes. I plan to rekindle that .. and maybe do a little sewing for my neighbors.