Tuesday, May 10, 2011
(hoto: Wayne W. Huang)
Strapped for cash, but determined to keep illegal immigrants out, the government of the state of Arizona plans to build more fence-line along the border with Mexico using private donations and prison labor.
The legislature has already authorized the building of a website to solicit contributions from those wishing to support a longer border fence. Currently, only 650 miles of the 2,000-mile U.S-Mexico border are fenced, with nearly half of it in Arizona.
The Government Accountability Office estimated the costs of border fencing ranged from $400,000 to $15.1 million per mile, depending on the geography.
Prisoners, who are paid 50 cents an hour, are already being used to clear out the brush from hiding places that are frequented by illegal border crossers.
Due to its budget deficit, Arizona is already using public donations to pay for its legal defense of its illegal immigration law that allows police to stop motorists and demand proof of citizenship.
The public donation law was signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 28 and is due to take effect on July 20.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Ariz. Seeks Online Donations to Build Border Fence (by Paul Davenport, Associated Press)
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