Agree with you that mechanization would help, however if we dried up the source of undocumented cheap labor, don't you think the farms would mechanize on their own? Same is true for all successful business, if a commodity is inexpensive (be it energy, labor water etc) there's no economic advantage to using it efficiently. When the supply is reduced that's when you see efficiency come into play. Look at the auto industry , when gas was cheap you had the gas guzzler cars, in the 70s with the oil shortages, we first saw economy cars.
In the case of labor, as long as we have people willing to work in slave like conditions (because anything in the U.S. is better than the turd-world) you have business all to happy to employ people with low wages & no benefits. Problem is, these corporations have money and can buy politicians who will keep the supply of cheap , slave-like labor flowing into the country.
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) -- Enforcement
The President's 2003 Budget increases the INS budget for enforcement by $1.2 billion, for a total of $5.3 billion, including the resources necessary to implement the Entry-Exit visa system. These resources will enhance key INS missions related to homeland security, including border patrol, inspections, and the implementation of a technologically advanced system for monitoring the entry and exit of foreign visitors. Key goals include:
Additional Personnel. The INS will more than double the number of border patrol agents and inspectors on the northern border. INS will also install integrated information systems to ensure that timely, accurate and complete enforcement data is transmitted to INS agents and other border security agencies operating in the field.
Entry-Exit Tracking System. The INS will implement a new entry-exit system to track the arrival and departure of non-U.S. citizens. This new system will dramatically improve our ability to deny access to those individuals who should not enter the United States, while speeding the entry of routine, legitimate traffic.
I found this gem on the White House web site. No mention of increasing our southern border personnel. I don't know if this has even happened. The PR is over 18 months old.
Yeah probably some of the big farms who could afford it. I'd be willing to help the small farmer, maybe with interest free loans or something similar.
One reason they don't is the illegal alien lobby would put enormous pressure on Congress, probably even call it racist. The interests of the American people obviously don't count for anything anymore.