In his presidential campaign, President elect Donald Trump has made a statement that he will build a wall along the Mexican border and make Mexico pay the constructing cost. This promise has been an ongoing controversy ever since.

After winning the election, it is expected that he will ask Congress for the initial funding for constructing the wall, which is estimated to cost between ＄12 billion and ＄38 billion according to analysts. The cost of the wall depends on the type of the fencing the walls will have and how long it will stretch across the border. Many taxpayers are enraged that Trump is planning on using their taxes and retreating on his promise. However, Trump boldly insisted in his speeches that he will make Mexico pay for the wall and that his promise will be kept.

In response to his tweets, Vicente Fox, former Mexican president, furiously replied that neither he nor the Mexican government will pay for the wall. With Mexico refusing to cooperate with the building of the so wall, Luke Messer, chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, has announced that there are many other ways to make Mexico pay for the wall. He has suggested the U.S. to cut a child tax break for the illegal immigrants to help with the portion of the funds needed. Trump also suggested that the U.S. reduce or slow down the process of travel cards and visas to Mexicans to pressure the Mexican government to pay. He can additionally install extra fees on the visas and border crossing cards to help even more with the wall funds.

The Massachusetts sheriff department even offered their prison inmates to help with the building of the wall. In one of his speeches in October, Trump has announced that he will ask Congress to pass legislation that fully funds the cost of the wall. With many controversies regarding that Trump broke the promise, Trump commented that Mexico is still going to pay for the full cost of building the wall and that Mexico will reimburse the U.S. at a later time. He explained his reasoning behind this and said that this was necessary due to speed. He also blamed the media for being “dishonest” and not reporting that Mexico will reimburse the wall.

It is still unknown how the Trump team will force Mexico to pay for the wall.

<Daniel Hwang Alta Loma HS 11th grade>