Lack of a minimum wage puts American citizens at a disadvantage--American sweat-shop owners, not so much.  And if 'illegal immigrant labor' were such a profitable alternative, one would expect US businesses to make use of it rather than moving their operations overseas where working folks get paid pittances even illegal laborers would consider not worth the trouble.

Under it all, the goal of working people is to keep themselves and their families alive.  The goal of big business owners is to get labor for as close to rock-bottom 'Antebellum' prices as possible.  Which of course is why they whine and squeal that demanding a living--and liveable--wage 'hurts the economy.'