Posted on 02/09/2016 12:07:05 PM PST by onyx
Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN)Donald Trump estimated on Tuesday that it will cost about $8 billion to build the wall he has promised to erect on the U.S.'s southern border if elected president.
Trump has vowed to force Mexico to pay for the border wall and said Tuesday on MSNBC that the hefty $8 billion price tag "is a tiny fraction of the money that we lose with Mexico" on trade.
"The wall is probably $8 billion, which is a tiny fraction of the money that we lose with Mexico. We lose a tremendous amount of trade deficits. We have a trade deficit with Mexico that is astronomical, much bigger than that. We will get -- and I say it also is also part of my plan -- Mexico is going to play for the wall," he said.
Trump's proposal to build a wall on the U.S.'s southern border and his hardline immigration policies have become central to the billionaire's presidential campaign. But Tuesday marked the first time he has tacked a specific dollar amount to his border wall proposal.
Trump said he came up with the figure by "multiplying the number of miles by a certain number."
"I'm taking price per square foot and price per square, you know, per mile, and it's a very simple calculation," Trump said, noting that he would need to erect about 1,000 miles of border wall along the 2,000-mile long border because of natural barriers along certain parts.
Trump's pledge to make Mexico pay for the wall drew harsh criticism just days earlier from former Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Even if Mexico doesn’t pay for it, contrast that $8 billion against the cost of government benefits for illegals. Just today, we read the story that $750 million was paid in illegal Obamacare benefits to illegals. Add food, education, medical, Obamaphones, subsidized housing, incarceration, etc.
A bargain! $8 billion is an absolute bargain!
Has anyone asked Cruz how he was going to pay for his wall?
I think we should get the Mexicans who are here illegally build it standing on the Mexican side of course and then BAM they are already on their side and can’t get back in!!!!!
It will cost us less when they’re living south of the border.
Don’t forget the child deduction on taxes they don’t pay in the first place!!!!
$8 Billion ONE TIME COST is a mere 16% of what we lose to Mexico EVERY YEAR. Peanuts. And yes Mexico will pay for it or else lose the trade surplus they enjoy with us.
TRUMP !
It’ll be done early and under budget.
Exactly.
Since Cruz claimed it’s his idea, we should ask him for his solution first.
I thought Mexico was going to pay for it?
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Yea, right.
We all know who is going to pay for the wall and it will be you and I and the rest of the taxpaying American population.
Mexico will not be writing a check. And if (a yuge if) we withhold aid to Mexico, guess whose money that is: the American taxpayer’s money.
I see you already factored in $10 billion in cost “overruns”.
A ‘lot’ of it???? You better find another source. Duncan Hunter got that bill passed, and niether Bush or Obama or CRUZ or RUBIO has ever done zip to get it done or funded !
[snip]I was stunned when I saw they were only requiring 27 miles of double layer fencing. The original bill had just 27 miles of fencing. As amended, the new billâwhich is headed to the House Rules Committee soon, and to the House floor as soon as House GOP leadership can rush it up for a vote shortly thereafterâhas just 48 miles of double-layer fencing. The Secure Fence Act requires 700 miles of double layer fencing. Why they donât just require the administration to implement that law is beyond me.
WE have all been disappointed since 2006 that next to NONE of this fence has been built.
Is Cancun worth $8 billion?
If they don’t want to pay thats fine. We’ll take Cancun.
Trump’s not willing to discuss specifics. He prefers name calling and sweeping generalizations ending in “trust me.”
Thanks for the ping, AW.
Trump has a budget for the border...and, it will NO DOUBT come in UNDER budget and AHEAD of schedule!!!!
ONLY Trump is NOT amnesty PAC owned!!
"The cost of building a permanent border wall pales mightily in comparison to what American taxpayers spend every single year on dealing with the fallout of illegal immigration on their communities, schools and unemployment offices.
Mexico must pay for the wall and, until they do, the United States will, among other things: impound all remittance payments derived from illegal wages;
increase fees on all temporary visas issued to Mexican CEOs and diplomats
(and if necessary cancel them); increase fees on all border crossing cards...of which we issue about 1 million to Mexican nationals each year (a major source of visa overstays);
increase fees on all NAFTA worker visas from Mexico (another major source of overstays);
and increase fees at ports of entry to the United States from Mexico [Tariffs and foreign aid cuts are also options].
We will not be taken advantage of anymore."Donald Trump
Saw this being discussed on CNN this afternoon.
They said, “$8 billion is just of fraction of the cost to deport those already here, and Paul Ryan won’t give Trump the money for that.”
Funny that they took the next step and brought RINO Ryan into it.
That’s a good deal. The new Airforce One is $3 billion.
It’s definitely the benchmark.
If we lose this election we all might be moving there.
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