Florida put in employer penalties and requirements for using verification.I also agree with you for the most part. If the employers of illegal workers were to get large fines and prison time, demand would dry up. The GOP approach is akin to arresting the junkies while ignoring the dealers. But if employers had to pay a 50% increase (or more) for workers to perform back-breaking work, prices (especially food prices) would be significantly effected. That's why I think new legislation is the wiser path because if done well, it could mitigate the problems while avoiding the major economic shocks.
Folks like @TC Nole OX posted articles predicting Armageddon.
He hasn’t posted any since it went into effect.
Maybe he can tell you why.