No, it couldn't. If he tried to do something like that by Executive Order it would fail immediately because remittances don't require federal employee involvement, and those are the only people directly subject to an Executive Order.
If he somehow tried to do it via rulemaking, injunctions would be filed and granted almost immediately. Not only by individuals, but by entities that do transfers.
If he wants to do this, it will take Congress passing a law to that effect.
The POLITICAL optics are entirely different. :)
It could be done easy by replacing the relevant Govt agencies involved heads and staff. Start enforcing existing law. Nothing new is needed to do that.
While I appreciate your viewpoint, and you’re quite correct, a presidential order banning remittances to Mexico would be worth less than the paper it was printed on (or the ink used to sign it...) However, a finding that remittances to Mexico are tax evasion, support to drug cartels, and support to terrorism would immediately kick in the Patriot Act’s sanctions against such a country.
And while I’m sure that there will be some judge who would issue an injunction, it would be swiftly overturned. It would require an act of congress to specifically exempt Mexico from that rule (and a host of others.) If the GOP has the slightest backbone (and sense to let Trump take the heat for it), Mexico would build that wall.
It is essentially the exact same plan liberals were floating, declaring Israel a safe harbor for terrorists and cutting off all remittances and payments to and from there.
Executive Order it would fail immediately because remittances don’t require federal employee involvement,
WRONG,WRONG,WRONG
All Remittances to foreign countries REQUIRE the Federal Reserve Corporation to Exchange said Funds. The Fed is under the Control of the Executive Branch.
The Executive Branch can simply ORDER the Treasury dept and the Fed to NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING FROM MEXICO.
I fear it's accurate to saw Trump is a borderline economic fascist. Though your points are correct, the underlying concept of too many of his supporters is that he'll ignore or close regulatory agencies, ignore for fire judges, and ignore the laws. And his targets will have no recourse. The whole idea is absurd, it's time he got economic advisors. Competent legal and political advisors too.
“If he wants to do this, it will take Congress passing a law to that effect. “
Maybe so, but he could also “direct the IRS and Customs and Immigration to “visit the places where remittances” are entered and “investigate the status” of those making them. “May I see your Social Security Card, Green Card, where do you work, etc.” And out in the parking lot, “may I see your driver’s license, proof of insurance, vehicle registration please!”
Didn’t say it wouldn’t take Congress, nor that it could be done by E. I said it could be done tomorrow.