Having talked to some immigrant workers in America about similar situations, I think the issue is a bit more nuanced than that. Yes, from what I hear, illegally low pay and benefits are not uncommon. However, there is also a lot higher sense of obligation by the employer towards the employed, since they are fellow members of a tight community. The boss is expected to put up with more of a requirement for job training, time off for family issues, etc. because if they are a jerk boss the word gets around about it in their own peer group. So, while they may not be subject to all of the same government restrictions that stranger boss-employee relations are, because of a tacit agreement not to report your own to the feds, they are also subject to a lot of extra restrictions that a stranger boss-employee relationship is not.
> The boss is expected to put up with more of a requirement for job training, time off for family issues, etc.
In my experience, this is not true. The boss benefits from having immigrated earlier and possibly having start up capital due to land or family assistance from the origin country. The newcomers, if related to the boss or owner, may have an advantage and be offered a piece of equity. But everyone else is just cheap labor, who have no better choice and need to grind out 5 years so they can apply for citizenship so they can then sponsor their child to immigrate.
