# Does anybody understand how Mexico will pay for the wall? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144 "2017-01-25T14:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/1 "2017-01-25T14:59:55Z")
The news today is that Trump is going to sign an executive order to start building The Wall. It’s estimated that it will cost over $10 billion/mile. He is still insisting that Mexico will pay for it, but has yet to tell us how that will happen. Does anybody have a clue as to what his Super Secret Plan is to accomplish this? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/2 "2017-01-25T15:06:20Z")
One idea kicking around is that Trump will confiscate remittances from illegal immigrants who send money to Mexico. Of course, Mexicans aren’t stupid. The first payment that does not go through, they will stop pouring money into the system if it’s just being stolen (or “confiscated” like happens along the highways of America). That would however remove something like $27Billion (!) of money flowing into Mexico each year, and certainly the effect on the Mexican economy would incentivize the Mexican government to talk to Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/3 "2017-01-25T15:10:55Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > It’s estimated that it will cost over $10 billion/mile. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/4 "2017-01-25T15:18:34Z")
More like $10 million a mile or $10 billion total. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/5 "2017-01-25T15:19:12Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > Cite? Yeah, I don’t think $10 billion a mile is remotely in the right ballpark. Most estimates I’ve seen have been in the general range of $20-30 billion, total. > **[Donald Trump's Mexico wall: Who is going to pay for it?](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37243269)** > > Donald Trump has set his plan for a US-Mexico border wall in motion. But who will end up paying for it? > **[Bad Math Props Up Trump’s Border Wall](https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/10/18/107445/bad-math-props-up-trumps-border-wall/)** > > Set aside the questions of whether it’s wise to put a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border or who should pay for it. It simply can’t be done at the price Donald Trump has claimed. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/6 "2017-01-25T15:25:45Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > One idea kicking around is that Trump will confiscate remittances from illegal immigrants who send money to Mexico. Of course, Mexicans aren’t stupid. The first payment that does not go through, they will stop pouring money into the system if it’s just being stolen (or “confiscated” like happens along the highways of America). That would however remove something like $27Billion (!) of money flowing into Mexico each year, and certainly the effect on the Mexican economy would incentivize the Mexican government to talk to Trump. Any way to do this legally? By the way, I’m also skeptical of the OP’s cost estimate but I think it’s a bad idea even if it costs much less. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/7 "2017-01-25T15:30:55Z")
It is estimated to take four years to construct. By then, there will be a new president. And no one will remember who is paying for it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/8 "2017-01-25T15:31:52Z")
You might think that the people who chanted “Mexico!” at his rallies when he asked “And who’s going to pay for it?” might be a bit angry over this news. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/9 "2017-01-25T15:35:54Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Any way to do this legally? > > By the way, I’m also skeptical of the OP’s cost estimate but I think it’s a bad idea even if it costs much less. Not easily and pretty much a pointless thing to do. How do you prove that the person sending it is an illegal? Couldn’t they just have someone with legal status send it? Also if something like this happened they could easily send money to another country first and then route it to Mexico, [maybe somewhere like Panama](https://panamapapers.icij.org/). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/10 "2017-01-25T15:43:59Z")
Wouldn’t the companies that wire the money get pretty damned pissed off at the government for ruining their reputations? “The only guarantee we can give you is that we’ll take your money!” is _not_ a slogan that will inspire confidence. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/11 "2017-01-25T15:46:41Z")
China will build a Great Wall! It will be the most Awesome Wall ever, believe me! And the Mongols will pay for it! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/12 "2017-01-25T16:04:07Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > One idea kicking around is that Trump will confiscate remittances from illegal immigrants who send money to Mexico. Of course, Mexicans aren’t stupid. The first payment that does not go through, they will stop pouring money into the system if it’s just being stolen (or “confiscated” like happens along the highways of America). That would however remove something like $27Billion (!) of money flowing into Mexico each year, and certainly the effect on the Mexican economy would incentivize the Mexican government to talk to Trump. Tax, not confiscate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/13 "2017-01-25T16:07:07Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Tax, not confiscate. A 100% tax? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/14 "2017-01-25T16:09:48Z")
Step 1: Wire money to an exchange in Canada (or a 100 other countries). Step 2: The exchange forwards the money to the recipient in Mexico. The idea of somehow magically stopping people in the US from sending money to Mexico is magnificently absurd and displays absolutely no knowledge of international banking. The wall is all political theater. Everyone, I mean everyone, with an ounce of sense knows that a maximum-security prison style wall won’t happen. (And it won’t stop a lot of illegal immigration. A lot of people come in other ways.) The sooner everybody forgets about it, the better. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/15 "2017-01-25T16:13:58Z")
I thought the idea being kicked around was just taxing remittances not just flat out confiscating them. Obviously they would dry up pretty quick otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/16 "2017-01-25T16:16:12Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > China will build a Great Wall! It will be the most Awesome Wall ever, believe me! > > And the Mongols will pay for it! I’ll believe that when I see it from the moon. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/17 "2017-01-25T16:21:54Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > Cite? Sorry, that should have been “million”. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/18 "2017-01-25T16:22:23Z")
Looks like we are planning on giving Mexico [about $134M](http://beta.foreignassistance.gov/explore/country/Mexico) in foreign aid. Keep it and that’s 13.5 miles right there. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/19 "2017-01-25T16:26:12Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I thought the idea being kicked around was just taxing remittances not just flat out confiscating them. Obviously they would dry up pretty quick otherwise. Legally taxing people that the government claims are illegal immigrants, instead of kicking them out of the country? Now I’m no lawyer, but the legalities of this seem rather iffy to me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144/20 "2017-01-25T16:29:28Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Looks like we are planning on giving Mexico [about $134M](http://beta.foreignassistance.gov/explore/country/Mexico) in foreign aid. Keep it and that’s 13.5 miles right there. There’s a great idea-“Give us ten billion dollars or you will never see that one hundred and thirty four million dollars in foreign aid!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-understand-how-mexico-will-pay-for-the-wall/778144.md?page=2)