Donald Trump would force Mexico to pay for a wall along its border with the U.S. by threatening to block money transfers from immigrants in the U.S., The Washington Post reports.
{mosads}The Post on Tuesday reported that Trump plans to change a rule under the USA Patriot Act anti-terrorism law, shrinking the number of money transfers — known as remittances — into Mexico.
The Trump administration would drop the threat for a “one-time payment of $5–10 billion” for the wall’s construction, the newspaper added.
Trump has repeatedly estimated that a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border would cost approximately $8 billion.
“It’s an easy decision for Mexico,” the GOP presidential front-runner wrote in a two-page memo obtained by the Post that details his strategy.
Trump’s move would severely threaten Mexico’s economy, the newspaper said, potentially convincing it to foot the bill for the 1,000 mile border wall. Mexicans living abroad sent nearly $25 billion into their home country last year, it added, citing the Mexican central bank.
Trump’s memo argues that “the majority of that amount comes from illegal aliens,” saying that money transfers could resume after the wall’s construction.
“We have the moral high ground here, and all the leverage,” Trump said in the memo. “It is time we use it in order to make America great again.”