Rating:

5.0 (1 vote)

PHOENIX - The totals are in from the first day of donations to help build a fence along the Arizona-Mexico border. More than $58,000 came into www.buildtheborderfence.com from 1,265 donors in just the first 24 hours.

"The Federal Government has made it abundantly clear that it has no interest in addressing the invasion of drug cartels, violent gangs, illegal aliens and terrorists along the border. The U.S. wants this problem addressed, and this is one way we're doing it," says Sen. Steve Smith, a Republican from Maricopa. Smith sponsored SB 1406, legislation that established a website for the purpose of raising private money to help build a border fence.

The border remains porous, and Arizona is taking one step toward true border security. From California to Texas, the southern border is approximately 2,000 miles, and only roughly 685 miles is fenced. The remaining 1300+ miles of the border have no fencing at all.

All the funds raised at www.buildtheborderfence.com are held in a trust fund account in the Arizona State Treasurer's Office. The Joint Border Security Advisory Committee, established in the bill, will oversee the project.

Every state in the union was represented on the first day of donations, and that does not surprise Sen. Smith.

"We have always said with illegal immigration, ‘what happens in Arizona doesn't stay in Arizona'. This is a crisis for the nation, and it is gratifying to know that all 50 states agree," says Sen. Smith.

You can visit the website for yourself by clicking here