Page 5 - ATODAY
P. 5
U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 6 April 2016
Trump proposes funding wall by cutting off remittances
“business and tourist visas issued to Mexican CEOs
and diplomats -- “and if
for important people in necessary cancel them” --
increasing fees on border
the Mexican economy” — crossing cards, increasing
fees on NAFTA worker
and increasing visa fees, visas from Mexico, and
increasing fees at ports
including includes fees on of entry between the two
countries.
border crossing cards. “Tariffs and foreign aid
cuts are also options,” the
The release of the memo immigration paper stated.
Trump’s campaign did
was first reported by the not immediately respond
to questions, including
Washington Post early whether he still envisions
impounding any money.
Tuesday. It is also unclear whether
Trump would seek any input
This is not the first time from Congress. He and
other Republicans have
that Trump has spelled long criticized Obama
for relying too heavily on
out options for pressuring executive orders to ram
through his agenda.q
Mexico into paying for his
signature policy proposal.
President Barack Obama speaks in the briefing room of the In an immigration overhaul
White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 5, 2016. “Good luck
with that,” the president said in response to questions about plan released in August,
Donald Trump’s proposal to try to force Mexico to pay for a
border wall by targeting billions of dollars in remittances sent by Trump’s campaign
immigrants living in the U.S.
suggested a number of
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
options for compelling
Mexico to pay for the
wall. Those included
VIVIAN SALAMA proposal. He warned of impounding “all remittance
JILL COLVIN the ramifications such a payments derived from
Associated Press plan would have on the illegal wages,” increasing
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mexican economy which, fees on temporary visas
Donald Trump would in turn, would drive more
try to force Mexico to immigrants to cross the
pay for a border wall by border in search of jobs.
targeting billions of dollars “People expect the
in remittances sent by president of the United
immigrants living in the States and the elected
U.S., according to a memo officials in this country
released by his campaign to treat these problems
Tuesday. seriously, to put forward
The memo outlines in new policies that have been
detail how Trump would try examined, analyzed
to compel Mexico to pay are effective, where
for the 1,000-mile wall he’s unintended consequences
promised to build along are taken into account,”
the Southern border if he Obama said. “They don’t
becomes president. expect half-baked notions
In his proposal, Trump coming out of the White
threatened to change a House. We can’t afford
rule under the USA Patriot that.”
Act, an anti-terrorism law, The U.S. is home to about
to cut off a portion of 12 million Mexicans,
the funds sent to Mexico some living here illegally,
through money transfers according to various
known as remittances. research organizations
His plan would also bar that monitor trends in
non-Americans from immigration. They and
wiring money outside of other migrants use money
the U.S. unless they can transfer agents or banks
provide documentation to send money home,
establishing their legal often with the objective of
status in the country. supporting their families.
Trump said he would The Mexican central bank
withdraw the threat if reported that money
Mexico makes “a one-time sent home by Mexicans
payment of $5-10 billion” to overseas hit nearly $24.8
finance the wall. billion last year, overtaking
“It’s an easy decision for oil revenues for the first
Mexico: make a one-time time as a source of foreign
payment of $5-10 billion income. Cutting off those
to ensure that $24 billion transfers would therefore
continues to flow into their represent a significant blow
country year after year,” to the Mexican economy.
the memo reads. The memo also lists
“Good luck with that,” other potential areas for
President Barack Obama leverage, including threats
said Tuesday in response of trade tariffs, cancelling
to questions about Trump’s visas — including targeting
