A border wall with Mexico could initially be financed by withholding federal funds from rogue ‘sanctuary’ cities, counties, and states – an idea that is being floated by President Trump and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC).

“In the upcoming omnibus budget bill, Congress must fund the border wall and prohibit grants to sanctuary jurisdictions that threaten the security of our country and the people of our country,” Trump said yesterday during his visit to California to inspect border wall prototypes. “We must enforce our laws and protect our people.”

“California sanctuary policies put the entire nation at risk. They’re the best friend of the criminal. That’s what exactly is happening. The criminals take refuge in these sanctuary cities, and it’s very dangerous for our police and enforcement folks.”

The president asserted that he may even veto the spending bill if it provides funding for sanctuary cities – regardless of whether there are also provisions for the wall.

?Happening Now:

President Trump checking out the border wall prototypes. #BuildTheWall pic.twitter.com/FYlW5D8201 — Dan Scavino Jr. (@Scavino45) March 13, 2018

Representative Meadows echoed the president’s sentiments during an appearance on Lou Dobbs Tonight.

“On March 23, we have an omnibus coming up that will fund the entire government, and I believe that we need to put money in for the wall,” Meadows said. “Perhaps one of the pay-fors would be this: let’s take some of that money that is going in to these sanctuary cities and sanctuary states – who refuse to uphold the rule of law and make sure that their communities are safe – perhaps we take that money back and use it on a down payment on the wall.”

Build The Wall: @RepMarkMeadows: @realDonaldTrump is committed to building the wall, we just need to pay for it. Let’s take federal money from sanctuary cities and use it as a down payment on the wall. #MAGA #TrumpTrain #Dobbs pic.twitter.com/hx5J2R3igP — Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) March 13, 2018

While President Trump has repeatedly vowed that Mexico will ultimately cover the cost of building the wall – a goal that can be accomplished myriad different ways, despite Mexico’s protestations – its construction should and can begin as soon as possible, regardless of the initial financing scheme.

Additionally, the wall could quickly pay for itself if it provides even modest results in stemming the tide of illegal aliens crossing the southern US border, as new research published by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) projects.

“The findings of this analysis show that if a border wall stopped a small fraction of the illegal immigrants who are expected to come in the next decade, the fiscal savings from having fewer illegal immigrants in the country would be sufficient to cover the costs of the wall,” explains Steven Camarota, director of research at CIS. “Based on National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine data, illegal border-crossers create an average fiscal burden of approximately $74,722 during their lifetimes, excluding any costs for their U.S.-born children. If a border wall stopped between 160,000 and 200,000 illegal crossers — 9 to 12 percent of those expected to successfully cross in the next decade — the fiscal savings would equal the $12 to $15 billion cost of the wall.”

President Trump tweeted a Fox News report on the CIS study on Tuesday.

“According to the Center for Immigration Studies, the $18 billion wall will pay for itself by curbing the importation of crime, drugs and illegal immigrants who tend to go on the federal dole…” https://t.co/NdLC6jZwWE — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018

According to CIS, there are approximately 300 state and local governments who currently provide ‘sanctuary’ for illegal aliens, in defiance of federal law. A comprehensive list can be found HERE.

The Trump administration scored a key legal victory on Tuesday, as a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the state of Texas in their efforts to crack down on sanctuary cities.

Dan Lyman: Follow @CitizenAnalyst