Arizona to Build Border Fence

Arizona to Build Border Fence Arizona no longer has to wait for the federal government to complete construction of a wall along the Mexican border. A new...

that takes effect July 20th Arizona no longer has to wait for the federal government to finish building a wall along the Mexican border. A new law that took effect on July 20 allows states to build fences as long as they can raise enough private donations and convince the public and private property owners to allow the state to erect barbed wire on their land. No other state has yet attempted such an approach to border fencing. The law's sponsor, Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa County, will discuss with the governor how to implement the law. Most of Arizona's borders are federal or Indian reservation lands, with a small portion owned by private landowners. Smith said he will talk to the governor's people about acquiring land rights along a 60-foot edge on federal land to build the fence. The southern border is about 370 miles long, one-third of which is between Yuma and Nograss on the western side of Honshu. As we all know, Noglala is the largest entry point for illegal immigrants and drugs in the southwest of the United States. Border Patrol agents alone are not enough to stop these. Councilor Smith is the Director of the State Government's Joint Border Security Advisory Committee. He explained that without adding enough radar and patrol manpower, the fence became the best obstacle. Brewer's spokesman Matthew Benson said the governor supports the law. "Enforcement of the law is very involved, and it would be much easier if there were enough private donations." If federal land cannot be used, Smith said he will begin negotiations with private ranchers to ask them to allow the state to use their land. Smith said he doesn't have an exact budget yet, but the cost could be in the $50 million range. According to a 2009 U.S. government report, one mile of fencing costs $3 million. But Smith said the final cost to Arizona will depend on what kind of fence is used and whether the state gets donations from private companies. State lawmakers also said they would use inmate labor to reduce costs.