Harvard Review
Two weeks ago, President Trump instituted broad tariffs using in part the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA). At least three lawsuits have been filed targeting his authority to issue tariffs under IEEPA and more may be forthcoming. While tariffs grab all the headlines, the Trump Administration may soon consider using IEEPA for another purpose: limiting personal remittances, which are transfers of money sent by migrants in the United States to family or friends in their home countries. The President’s use of IEEPA to limit personal remittances would be novel, but likely legal…
…Limiting personal remittances sits at the intersection of two Trump Administration priorities: limiting capital outflows and curbing migration. Remittance payments to Latin America have jumped immensely — by 26.7% in 2021 alone — which is likely a result of the recent explosion in migration to the United States. There are now $160 billion dollars in remittances sent to Latin America and the Caribbean every year, increasingly via businesses with booming valuations that promise low rates and easy processing.
Many migrants enter the United States in order to send remittances to family and friends back home and may voluntarily return to their countries of origin if they were no longer able to do so. And some remittances are used to pay “migrant smugglers,” creating a cycle of migration. Furthermore, personal remittances make up more than a quarter of some Latin American countries’ gross domestic product, so the threat of limits are a useful negotiating tool in the hands of the President. More
It’s said “follow the money” but in this case the term ” block the money” will be effective in reducing the tendency to milk America of resources.
Block Payments Sent Back Home and Watch the District Courts Issue TRO’s in Droves.
Still can’t believe this hasn’t been done yet. Levy a 25% surcharge and this country will suddenly be unaffordable for unwelcomes.
I’m glad someone is writing about remittances by illegals (and others who have come here, too). It’s a big deal. People who are doing this are just leeches on the American economy with no sense of actually belonging or wanting to belong to America. Deport everyone who is doing this on a regular basis. It’s one of the best litmus tests of their loyalty to our country.
The first to be deported should be all those who have received and are sending tax-paid benefits to their home countries.
There are other ways to transfer money besides wire transfers.
I could see a judge stopping this. What I don’t see is a judge forcing continued welfare payments to noncitizens – no law mandating that, Bidenministration was doing this illegally. Nor stopping enforcement of laws prohibiting businesses from hiring illegals. With no income they will leave.
txfella SATURDAY, 19 APRIL 2025, 13:36 AT 1:36 PM
Ya think they’re paying taxes here?
At least that way you could recover some of it.
Ain’t just the southern border, lots going to Europe, the PI, etc.
Tell me how much other countries allow as out flow!
Don’t bother with this. They will just use a crypto service instead. Trump wanted to tax these transfer payments in his first term, claiming that ‘we will build a wall and they will pay for it’. Never happened.