The order has been issued for the immediate construction of a Mexico border wall. The specs have been outlined: 30 feet high and "aesthetically pleasing." The next thing on President Donald Trump's to-do list for building his "big, beautiful wall": hire more lawyers for a long and expensive battle over private land.

The wall will cost a lot more, politically and economically, than Trump has publicly acknowledged. To build the wall along the nearly 2,000-mile border — and fulfill a key campaign promise — Trump will need to wield the power of government to forcibly take private properties, including those belonging to his supporters.