The reason it has always been that way is pro-business politicians want it that way


Allows them to under pay them and get away with various safety/health issues since the workers can't afford to cause trouble.
And if strictly enforced it will lead to inflation in food prices, restaurants, and other industries. In technology you have the H1B visas that Musk is so fond of, that is largely due to being able to pay those workers significantly less money.

While there needs to be a proper way to get people to do this work, cracking down in a severe way is just going to hurt the economy significantly. Many of these people are a net plus for the economy.

I was on a plane trip a few months ago and was sitting next to a young lady. She was from Mexico and was working in Maryland picking crabs. She had some contract for "x" months of work and got paid per pound of crab meat picked. For every job like that which is done legally, there are many more that go the illegal route.

My wife's family history goes back to Mexico. Her parents have both passed away. One was born in Texas and the other in Mexico and eventually gained citizenship in the US. Her father made all 3 kids work a summer in the fields picking cotton or whatever. He wanted them to see the importance of getting an education and it worked.

Rich