Governor of Arizona signs bill to direct $335 Million for the construction of a border wall

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation Thursday that authorizes $335 millions in state cash to build virtual or physical fencing at the Mexican border. This is part of the $564million border security funding package, which was the largest ever used by the state.

The fencing legislation doesn’t specify where, when, or how barriers and technology are to be placed. Additionally, the governor’s Office stated that no plan document was currently available. The majority of the border lies on federal property, which limits the state’s ability to complete the sections without fencing.

Ducey is the Republican Governors Association’s co-chair. He and other GOP politicians used border security to their advantage in an election year. The letter contained harsh criticisms of Democratic President Joe Biden.

“Arizona won’t sit by while the Biden administration fails its job to safeguard our nation and state from the clear, present danger of unsecure borders,” Ducey wrote.

In the state budget, border funding includes $209 millions in funding for border enforcement. This includes funding for a Cochise County jail and local transportation. The fund also includes $45 millions for “fusion” and emergency operations, and $54million in cash to local sheriffs’ offices.