Local, state GOP rally to support border fence bill

Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) kicked off the launch of the website www.BuildTheBorderFence.com at Tommy’s Bistro in Casa Grande last night.

At the event, prominent state Republicans spoke to a full house on border control and illegal immigration.  

Along with Smith, Senate President Russell Pearce (R-Mesa), Rep. John Fillmore (R-Apache Junction), Attorney General Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio talked about border control and the need for the State Legislature to address the issue.

Smith said he was going on two hours of sleep, as he had been fielding questions from across the nation. He said he was receiving calls that questioned the reason for building a fence. Smith cited drugs, terrorists, gangs and an exploitation of the Social Security system to those who claimed it wasn’t a national problem.

“Arizona didn’t ask for this fight,” Smith said. “But the (federal) government isn’t doing anything. So at what time do we do anything? The number one rule for our government to do is protect us. This is a small step, but not the answer by any means.”

Smith said since the site went live, thousands of donations had already come in from across the country. Pearce said donations of "$5 and $10 add up."

“This is not Arizona’s problem,” Smith said. “This is America’s problem.”

Arpaio joked he wasn’t worried about anything he said at the event because “no one in Pinal County can vote for me anyway.”

He also kidded with Pearce that state prisoners, rather than county prisoners, will likely be used to build the wall.  “State prisoners you have to pay, county prisoners work for free,” he said.

Arpaio said it was a shame Smith had to ask for donations for “something the federal government should be doing,” and added that Smith “had guts for putting his nose out there.”

Fillmore said immigration always has been a divisive issue, but something has to be done. “I support the idea of building the fence as there is a war being waged,” he said.

He said drug cartels in Mexico are committing violent crimes, and he doesn’t want that to come here. “We don’t want what’s happening there to come here,” he said. “It makes me angry and it makes me furious.”

Fillmore cited the 1986 amnesty bill, or the Simpson-Mazzoli Act, signed by then-President Ronald Reagan, in which an estimated 3 million illegal immigrants were granted citizenship. He said we were promised that would never happen again, adding the Obama administration has been inept with its handling of border control.

Pearce praised the efforts made by Smith in his first year of office, adding Smith has “a love for family and a good moral compass.”

Initially, he didn’t think Smith could win the election, but gave credit to Smith for his determination to win a seat that has traditionally been held by a Democrat. Like Arpaio, Pearce also talked about the existing legislation that isn’t being enforced and said courts have failed to uphold the law.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “People ask ‘why build the fence?’ It’s one more step to secure the border.”

But not everyone agrees building a border fence is the best use of financial resources.

"If we are going to raise money, it should be for education," said Henry Wade, organizer for 'Copa Democrats. "Also, our efforts should be on economic development, attracting businesses to Arizona to provide more jobs. Security is important, but our resources shouldn't be spent on sensationalist ideas." 

Wade, who did not attend last night’s event, said Smith campaigned on narrow ideas and that he continues with those ideas.

The legislation for constructing the fence, SB 1406, went into effect yesterday and the money raised will be held in a trust fund account in the Arizona State Treasurer’s Office. The bill also created the Joint Border Security Advisory Committee for oversight and accountability of these funds. It also calls for inmate labor to be used in building the border fence.