They arent being treated equally, and the whole thing creates a false economy.
If you are making just enough to barely eat and live in a hovel, you might as well be a slave. They were given food and lodging, too. The only difference is choice, but, as youve pointed out, their choice in staying home is not much of a choice.
This is not something to be celebrated - that Americans have gotten fat and lazy off of .... well, not slaves, like you say... ummm, ‘SubAmericanly Paid’ wage slaves, while Capitalists get rich exploiting people with no other options, selling a product that obviously wouldnt stand on its own without having desperate people to exploit.
This is a bandaid. There are problems that actually need to be fixed in their home countries, and teaching Americans how not to fish is a huge problem, too.
The only potential solution i see, that is fair to the poor people of Central America, is America wiping out their cartels and government. As people, perhaps we can figure out what products to boycott, although i think that may bring short term Hell down there for the people, without money coming in.
It is definitely exploitative, even if they arent slaves.