You also get a lot of people saying that the lax immigration is specifically designed so that farmers (and restaurants, and even private persons) could exploit

You also get a lot of people saying that the lax immigration is specifically designed so that farmers (and restaurants, and even private persons) could exploit labor instead of paying livable wages. Since lax immigration's net result is a serious deterioration in labor conditions, it shouldn't exist. And frankly, let's just not pretend this i meant to increase the chances those people have in life, therefore it should not be done. These people would generally be referred to as "leftists". And please just don't make the argument that people should "allow" themselves to be exploited if they want to. It should simply not be possible to exploit labor. That means no illegals and strict enforcement of immigration laws, especially against employers. Immigration laws protect people, among other things, against competing in a global labor market. Why ? Because global labor conditions are disgustingly bad. Global median wage is $18000 PPP dollars (yearly). There are 2 terms that require definition. Firstly median means 50% make less than that and you should generally expect to make slightly less than that if you're not exceptional. Second is PPP dollars. The "real" global wage in real dollars is about $3000, but because bread is generally cheaper outside of developed economies. To put it inaccurately but easily, you can buy $3000 worth of iPads with PPP dollars, but $18000 worth of bread. If you are unwilling to work for a yearly wage of somewhere between $3k and $18k, and you think the law needs to prevent such a situation from arising, then part of that law needs to be that illegal immigrants can't work in the US. Otherwise such a law is crippled/sabotaged. I get that the "gig economy" cannot exist under those conditions. And that you will have to walk 200m if you want pizza in the weekend, or pay 40$ or so for that pizza. That's what it takes for everyone to be able to live, and the gig economy, frankly, deserves to be laid waste.