Illegal aliens comprise a substantial portion of the sweatshop work force.
INS has limited intelligence on sweatshop operations and their links to alien-smuggling organizations. INS employer sanctions units have the resources to investigate only a small percentage of the leads they receive concerning the employment of illegal aliens. Furthermore, INS' relationship with DOL and state labor agencies in the field has been troubled by the latter agencies' sense of conflicting missions and their reluctance to cooperate in operations and intelligence sharing. INS employer sanctions enforcement has relied heavily on civil fines. Civil enforcement may be a less effective deterrent for sweatshop employers than for the typical mainstream employer.