"You're wrong, Donald!": 4 reasons Trump's immigration plan is complete nonsense

California's Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom explains why the Donald's big plans for a border wall don't make a lick of sense

Published September 19, 2015 5:00PM (EDT)

  (AP/Mark J. Terrill)
(AP/Mark J. Terrill)

This article originally appeared on AlterNet.

AlterNetDonald Trump’s plan to build a wall to stop illegal immigration on the Mexican border and deport 11 million undocumented migrants would ravage the U.S. economy and cost at least $400 billion, according to California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.

“This week California will be hosting a Republican presidential debate,” Newsom said in a short graphic video, “You’re Wrong Donald.” He continues, “It’s a perfect time to show you the truth behind his immigration ideas and how they’ll hurt all of us.”

1. The Wall Won’t Be Built. Trump has proposed building a wall along the entire 1,900-mile Mexican border. “But that won’t work because of rivers, mountains, tribal land, private land and countless other challenges,” Newsom replied.

2. A Wall Won’t Stop Migrants. Trump claims that his wall would stop undocumented migrants from entering the U.S. “But a wall won’t secure out border or keep people safe,” Newsom replied, as a man is seen emerging from a tunnel.

3. You Can’t Deport 11 Million. Trump has said that he would round up and deport 11 million men, women and children—where people would be taken by police from their homes, job and schools. “A conservative think tank [American Action Forum] says deporting that many people would cost over $400 billion,” he replied, citing an early 2015 study that estimated the cost between $420 billion and $619 billion.

4. You’d Destroy The Economy. What would Trump’s plan do the the U.S. economy, Newsom asks. “Well, we’d lose half of our farm workers and 6 percent of America’s workforce,” he replies. “Trump’s plan would send our economy into a downturn worse than the great recession and cost our economy more than $1.6 trillion.”

“Trump’s plan would be a disaster,” concludes Newsom, who is expected to run for California governor in 2018. “And Donald, I’ll debate that plan anytime, anywhere.”

Watch the video here:


By Steven Rosenfeld

Steven Rosenfeld is the editor and chief correspondent of Voting Booth, a project of the Independent Media Institute. He has reported for National Public Radio, Marketplace, and Christian Science Monitor Radio, as well as a wide range of progressive publications including Salon, AlterNet, the American Prospect, and many others.

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