that direct payment plan was more than an offhand response during a campaign rally, it was his official strategy. this didn t get a lot of attention in the campaign, but 22 days into the government shutdown, we need to revisit it. it is a two-page memo first published by the washington post dated march 31st, 2016. it was sent to robert costa and bob bob woodward ward from donald j. trump on campaign letterhead. the subject, compelling mexico to pay for the wall. it is then candidate trump s three day plan to force mexico to, quote, make a one time payment of 5 to $10 billion to pay for the wall. that s back when trump claimed it would be built for $10 billion. estimates are roughly double that now. according to the memo, on day one, trump said the u.s. would suggest redefining it and invoking part of the patriot act to take a portion of money that workers send to mexico and block all payments sent to mexico by