Arizonans raise $100,000 for private border fence

In its first week of fundraising, buildtheborderfence.com, an effort by private citizens in Arizona to build a fence along the U.S-Mexico border to keep illegal immigrants out, has raised more than $100,000.

The site first began accepting donation on 20 July and has so far received funding from roughly 2,300 people.

The group said that it is accepting private donations to build a border fence because the government is not doing its job and enforcing immigration laws. So far the border fence site has received donations from individuals across the United States ranging from $5 to $2,000.

State senator Steve Smith, who sponsored the bill that would allow the border fence to be built, said that the tremendous support the site has received is evidence of people’s concern over illegal immigration and the understanding of its far-reaching effects outside of Arizona.

“It’s America’s problem and I think America understands that,” he said.

The group’s plan is to build a solid fence along the 370 miles that Arizona shares with Mexico. The project is estimated to cost $3 million per mile for a total of $1 billion, Senator Smith believes that the costs can be cut by using prison labor and donated supplies.

The groups’ initial budget is $50 million and the organization hopes to reach exceed their goal with fundraising.

Critics of the privately built border fence see it as an unrealistic project as the fence must pass through federal, private, and state lands. The state legislation authorizes the bill to pass through its land, and state authorities say they will seek authorization from private landowners and the federal government when necessary.

Jennifer Allen, the executive director of Border Action Network, said that the fence will most likely be a series of unconnected patches of fences that are isolated from other parts.

“It’s a joke and a waste of people’s money,” Allen said.