Donald Trump submitted a two-page memo to the Washington Post detailing how he would make Mexico pay for his 1,000-mile border wall and, oh, is it good. He plans to choke off about $25 billion in payments that immigrants working here send back to their families. Not only would it decimate their economy and create an ally-turned-enemy, it's also unclear whether it's legal or even possible.
The proposal would jeopardize a stream of cash that many economists say is vital for Mexico’s struggling economy. But the feasibility of Trump’s plan is unclear both legally and politically, and also would test the bounds of a president’s executive powers in seeking to pressure another country.
In the memo, Trump said he would threaten to change a rule under the USA Patriot Act antiterrorism law to cut off a portion of the funds sent to Mexico through money transfers, commonly known as remittances. The threat would be withdrawn if Mexico made “a one-time payment of $5-10 billion” to pay for the border wall, he wrote.
“It’s an easy decision for Mexico,” Trump said in the memo, which was written on campaign stationery emblazoned with “TRUMP Make America Great Again.”
Great, so the cornerstone of Trump's candidacy—his promise, if you will—depends on doing something that some legal experts believe is so controversial it would almost surely be litigated and, if successful, would completely destabilize the economy of a strong American ally. Not to mention the fact that it would be leveraged on the backs of the poorest of the poor. Are we feeling "great" yet?