Posted on 04/05/2016 7:16:56 AM PDT by Olog-hai
Donald Trump would force Mexico to pay for a border wall by threatening to cut off billions of dollars in remittances sent by immigrants living in the U.S., according to a memo released by his campaign Tuesday.
The memo outlines how Trump would try to compel Mexico to pay for a 1,000-mile wall if he becomes president.
In his proposal, Trump threatened to change a rule under the USA PATRIOT Act, an anti-terrorism law, to cut off funds sent to Mexico through money transfers known as remittances. Trump said he would withdraw the threat if Mexico makes “a one-time payment of $5-10 billion” to finance the wall. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Agreed
So do I. I think they tell him to go pound sand.
There are enormous roadblocks to actually putting an effective stop to those remittances, and even then, you've got to put yourself in the position of a Mexican politician. Knuckling under to Trump's threats would be instant political suicide. There's 0% chance of that happening before the U.S. actually shows that it is truly capable of shutting down illegal remittances, which I don't think they could. The most common workaround would just be using legal immigrants to send the money home.
Look, here's my point. There is a lot of public support for building a wall. It's a good issue, and good policy as far as I'm concerned.
But forcing Mexico to pay for the Wall just sounds like an empty boast to a lot of people, and I think it ignores the political realities in Mexico. National pride simply wouldn't permit them to knuckle under.
There's nothing wrong with making a threat if you're prepared to back it up, but in this case, I think that's where it falls down. The Mexicans will never agree to that (which is why it would have to be a U.S. imposed tax for which Mexican agreement isn't required), and Trump will lose his first showdown with another government. I'm sick of weak Presidents, and I don't want that to happen.
Funny....0bie just called out Trump for explaining exactly how Mexico WILL pay for the wall.
You and 0bie are in agreement.
BREAKING: Obama SCOLDS #Trump on Cutting Off Remittances to #Mexico; thanks for the endorsement, @POTUS; #MAGA https://t.co/etq6VNUSTt— MicroChip (@WDFx2EU) April 5, 2016
Who is “Obie”? I guess I’m not up on all the pet names at this point....
Sure, I'm more than happy to wager. A donation to FR by the loser?
Bet is defined as the Mexican government paying $5-10B to construct a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. I say no, you say yes. Amount $50.
Deal?
That's utter nonsense. You clearly place no value on the presumption of innocence, our Constitution and our judicial system. Even President Trump wouldn't make such an absurd proposal.
I understand your willingness to open all you financial records to the federal government, but few conservatives share it. The government has to prove criminal activity. Funds earned from criminal activity, the government has to prove it. They don't get to throw eyeamok's butt in jail, or confiscate assets, without due process. I doubt you really support that, or that Trump does. You should give some thought to what you're suggesting.
While we're on the topic, what about remittances to Latin America, which exceed Mexico? And they provide illegals. China exceeds Latin America and India exceeds China. There are illegals from both countries. Eastern Europe, Poland and Russia. Include them? Donald knows all about Polish illegals.
Right, they're all stupid. They can go into a Western Union office and wire money to an account in Mexico, but not to an account in another country. Or are they too stupid to open a bank account for their spouse or family. If they are there'll be an abogado in the neighborhood who will do it, if not their currency exchange. Or their bank in Mexico, many of whom operate in other countries. The only solution would be to bar cash remediations completely, allow only transfers from bank accounts, which have verified ss numbers. Or tax all remediations. Legal too, if people have money the government should get part of it.
Ironically, yes. A great deal of the labor used was palestinian, legally. And the concrete used for the small portion built of concrete is rumored to have come from companies controlled by Abbas' family. But yes, Israel's money.
Horrible politics in the US. Trump is changing an issue, constructing a wall/barrier of some sort which is supported by a large majority of Americans to a pis*ing contest over who pays for it. With Trumps ego heavily invested. With the distinct possibility of turning a winning issue into a loser. Like the abortion issue. With a majority of Americans opposed to abortion beyond some definition of viability. 43 states have such laws. Rather than taking advantage of that majority support, he changes the issue to whether mothers should go to jail for an abortion under "illegal" circumstances. Changed his mind, but that won't stop the ads this fall. Quotes around illegal since in those 43 states only the provider commits a crime, not the mother.
“The only solution would be to bar cash remediations completely, allow only transfers from bank accounts, which have verified ss numbers. Or tax all remediations. Legal too, if people have money the government should get part of it.”
Best idea yet! But I guess really the place to start will be employers. And that would involve the least circuitous process of stopping everything. I don’t know how it is where you live, but here in NorCal, virtually everything is done by Hispanics. tree trimming, roofing, house cleaning, you name it. They are doing all the direct labor jobs around, and they often work for other Hispanics. And as for farm labor, forget it, it’s all Hispanic. I will say though, they are all hard-working folks! Just wonder then, who would do this work if they left? Blacks? No, they’re too busy knocking out illegitimate kids, perpetrating crimes, and doing/selling drugs! white people? Nah, it’s now beneath them to work, especially since there’s all this “free assistance” with no requirement to even look for a job.
You're right, with harsh penalties, including prison for multiple offenders.
I'm skeptical of the "jobs Americans won't do" meme, but it's possible it'll be hard to fill these jobs, but many of the jobs you mention were done by non-illegals 25 years ago. Farm labor too. But it would be a long, difficult transition.
Personally I'd have no problem legalizing any illegal working here with no legal problems, under certain conditions.
Work permits, no path to citizenship. At all, other than under existing policies.
They acknowledge their fealty to a foreign government, and that they will be treated the same as US based employees of a foreign government. No, that doesn't mean diplomatic immunity, yes it does mean no "birthright citizenship"
Employer follows all US labor laws, and is responsible for seeing that the employee has legal housing and food. This already applies for agricultural visas. Six families in a two bedroom house doesn't work.
Liability insurance. No matter who pays, but employer is ultimately responsible. Insurance companies would likely step in and provide employer coverage for employees who don't pay premiums. Like insurance banks carry on their mortgages should homeowners policies lapse.
Health insurance, as above.
No Medicaid, no benefit programs. No social security, though the employer pays in his half. I don't care if the employee pays or not if he's not getting benefits. Unemployment I'm open since he's paying the premiums.
Of course this kills many of the benefits of employing illegals. Employers might have to raise wages, or hire Americans, or both.
Those who don't get work permits are expelled as they're found. Would have to be some provision for the length of the permit and the loss of a job. Allow a reasonable amount of time for reemployment, not forever.
For those on the left who howl about citizenship and the right who howl about cost, the issue can be revisited down the road.
I don’t wish to break the bad news to you but, in TAX COURT THERE IS NO PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE, YOU ARE DEEMED GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE.
ASK ANY LAWYER OR ACCOUNTANT.
This is already “Established Law” and SET IN STONE by Numerous Supreme Court Decisions, as well as Congress and the Executive Branch.
YOU Seize Half as withholding tax and issue them a W2. They can file their TAXES just like Every One Else. If it is Legit, then no worries, but we know most is NOT.
That is and has been OUR SYSTEM for a long long time.
Several years ago ( during the aftermath of the 2007 GWB-created financial mess) a niece of ours moved here to NorCal ( actually to Sonoma) from North Carolina to take a job in the wine industry. She was able to buy a foreclosed home in Sonoma for about $300,000 that had, at the peak of the market been worth about $750k. We got involved because of the massive rework and repairs that were needed. It seems that 4 illegal families had pooled their resources and purchased this very nice ranch style 4 bedroom home. They had put a wall up down the middle of the living room ( on top of the carpet) which had a vaulted ceiling, cut in a window in an adjacent wall (because all the windows were on one side of the LR) but they didn't bother to repair the wall inside or out, so you could see daylight all the way around the opening. They had walled off the dining room from the open hallway to make yet another BR. I have never, and I mean never, seen a place this filthy! the walls were so dirty that after we washed them down, I had to spray virtually the whole interior of the place with primer before any painting could be done. All of the faucets were broken and most of the electrical outlets. The place had a pool which was full of brown water and the garbage disposal had welded itself to the stainless steel sink! And all of this a few blocks from city hall with no one being the wiser. This is the face of illegal immigration. These people have no clue about living standards and yet we stand idly by while they move in, procreate prolifically, and talk about how they are going to “retake” land that was originally “theirs.” Mexicans call themselves La Raza ( the race). I'd like to understand how you build “a race” out of the results of a few white Spaniards having sex with a bunch of indigenous people in Central and South America?
So after Mexico relents Trump's going to start allowing the "illegal" transfers again?
So what happens when Mexico cries Uncle? Do you just say never mind, it's OK to resume remittances?
If not, what's their incentive to negotiate?
Then POTUS suddenly decides it isn’t a big issue; just like it did in deals with China and North Korea and any number of international disputes since the creation of this country.
Thanks. Glad to see I’m not the only one who sees this.
International disputes are one thing. Allowing illegal activity to resume in the US after making a big deal about national security is another.
This idea is half baked.
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