Originally published on February 19, 2014
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A bill to erect a $30 million dollar virtual fence along Arizona's border with Mexico narrowly passed a State Senate committee on Monday. The fence would be built to monitor smuggling and illegal immigration along the border.
The bill's sponsor, State Senator Bob Worsley, wants to put 300 watch towers along Arizona's 350-mile border with Mexico. The watchtowers would be placed within one mile of the border and would be paired with radar sensors, solar power units and video cameras. The radar sensors could each monitor 250 acres. The radar sensor would send signals to a publically accessible website and could also be monitored by law enforcement agencies.
In an interview with Reuters, State Senator Bob Worley said that the virtual fence would allow Arizonans to monitor how the federal government is protecting the border. Some of his fellow Republican lawmakers, however, including State Senator Chester Crandell, expressed concerns about funding and privacy issues.
The bill must be approved by both the full Arizona State Senate and Arizona House of Representatives and be signed by the governor before it becomes law.
Worsley said he had been in contact with a Utah company about erecting a test unit at the state capitol in a few weeks.
Republican-controlled Arizona has been at odds with the Obama administration in recent years over how to handle illegal immigration issues. The Obama administration had previously blocked a virtual fence project in January, 2011.
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