Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers and fellow Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would fund Trump’s proposed border wall by taxing the money immigrants send home to their families in other countries.
“This bill is simple – anyone who sends their money to countries that benefit from our porous borders and illegal immigration should be responsible for providing some of the funds needed to complete the wall,” said Rogers. “This bill keeps money in the American economy, and most importantly, it creates a funding stream to build the wall.”
Rogers has proposed a 2% tax on all remittances, regardless of the sender’s nationality.
According to a Pew Research Center analysis, immigrants sent roughly $130 billion home to their families in 2015. A 2% tax could provide over $2 billion per year to fund the wall.
Money earned in the US and sent to Mexico, which in 2015 totaled more than $20 billion, represents one of Mexico’s biggest sources of income.
Rogers’ proposal is good news for American taxpayers, who will be forced to pay for the wall if another solution is not found. His idea is far less complicated than other solutions Trump has proposed, including:
• Somehow forcing Mexico to pay for the wall
• Rewriting wire transfer laws
• Cancelling visas
• Imposing high tariffs on Mexican imports
Editor’s note: While I am never a fan of taxes, this would do it. “Remittances” to Mexicoa and the rest of Central and South America top $69 Billion this year. A 2% tax would fund the wall over ten years would likely fund the wall and continuing maintainence.