Breakdown:

1. A System Designed for Exploitation
   The “undocumented” status benefits neither the workers nor the average citizen. By keeping undocumented workers in a vulnerable position without full rights, they become a labor force that’s easy to exploit. The real beneficiaries are employers who can hire them at lower wages without providing standard benefits or protections.
2. Equal Rights for All Workers
   If all workers, regardless of immigration status, were protected by the same labor laws and minimum wage standards, undocumented immigrants would no longer have a competitive advantage. Employers wouldn’t be able to offer less pay or avoid benefits, removing incentives to hire undocumented workers for lower wages.
3. The Impact on Union-Busting Efforts
   When Reagan-era Republicans targeted unions, a key strategy was to fracture the unity among workers. Pitting union workers against cheaper undocumented labor weakened the bargaining power of unions and gave employers leverage, ultimately dismantling the power of organized labor and driving down wages for everyone.
4. Undocumented Status as a Tool for Wage Suppression
   By restricting undocumented workers’ rights, the system ensures a steady supply of cheap labor. This keeps wages low across the board, reinforcing economic inequality. The ultimate goal for corporations has been to maximize profit by extracting labor without compensating it fairly—a tactic that thrives when workers lack unified protections.
5. Reimagining Labor Rights to Address the Core Issue
   The solution isn’t about “what to do with undocumented workers”; it’s about reshaping labor laws to protect everyone equally. By extending labor rights to all workers, the exploitation ends, wages stabilize, and workers can no longer be pitted against each other, leading to a fairer and more just system for all.

Summary:

The issue of undocumented labor is less about immigration status and more about the exploitation of workers for profit. By restricting rights for undocumented individuals, the system creates a vulnerable workforce, keeping wages low and labor divided. Addressing this problem requires extending equal labor protections to all, removing incentives for exploitation and fostering economic justice.