Here's how Donald Trump thinks he can force Mexico to pay for his wall

Donald Trump has claimed he will make Mexico pay for a border wall, but he's never actually given details on how he would get America's southern neighbor to foot the bill. In a two-page memo reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday, Trump finally outlined his plan to pressure Mexico into making the payment — by cutting off the flow of money from immigrants sent back home.

The plan, which is questionable both legally and politically according to the Post, would effectively decimate the Mexican economy by stemming billions of dollars in money transfers, or remittances, sent over the border. Trump would only allow money transfers to continue if Mexico made "a onetime payment of $5-10 billion," according to his memo.

Trump also suggested increased trade tariffs, the cancellation of visas, and higher fees for border-crossing cards as tactics for getting the money needed to build the wall. However, it is unclear if Trump's plan could actually be implemented:

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

But because the rule would apply to money transfers and visas, not limiting immigration, it could be hard for Trump to argue he meets the exceptions.