PHOENIX — Arizona is taking on immigration again.

Lawmakers are collecting donations to fence every inch of the state's border with Mexico, a first-of-its-kind effort.

The idea came from state Sen. Steve Smith, a Republican who says Americans nationwide have donated about $255,000 since July, when the state launched a fundraising website that urges visitors to "show the world the resolve and the can-do spirit of the American people."

Smith acknowledges he has a long way to go to make the fence a reality — $255,000 barely would cover a half mile of fencing. He estimates supplies alone would cost $34 million, or about $426,000 a mile. Prisoners are expected to do the work at 50 cents an hour.

The fence is Arizona's latest attempt to crack down on illegal immigration. A judge suspended key provisions of a contentious immigration law, prompting Gov. Jan Brewer's appeal to the Supreme Court. She also signed the fencing bill.

Critics of the plan say the idea is a misguided, piecemeal approach to border issues that will be ineffective and hugely expensive. They note billions of dollars spent by the federal government to build fencing that hasn't stopped illegal immigration.

"You're going to get 50 yards of fencing, if that," said Alfredo Gutierrez, a former Democratic state senator and immigrant-rights advocate who ran for governor in 2002.

Smith and other supporters don't care. They contend the federal government has done little to secure the border and that more fencing will close gaps exploited by smugglers and illegal immigrants. Even if not completed, supporters believe the fence will send a message to Washington.

The project is being overseen by the 15-member Joint Border Security Advisory Committee, composed of lawmakers, law-enforcement officials and four sheriffs, including Maricopa County's Joe Arpaio. The panel meets once a month and will decide when and where to build the new fencing and what construction firms win bids.

Wherever they build it — private, state or federal land — they will need approval.

Smith is confident the state will comply, so he's focusing on private landowners. It isn't clear if the federal government would allow fences on its land.

Fencing now covers about 650 miles, or one-third, of the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. Nearly half is in Arizona — the busiest gateway for both illegal immigrants and marijuana.

Smugglers often circumvent fences by cutting or driving through them, climbing over them, launching drugs with catapults over them, or digging tunnels under them.

Despite the relative lack of money, Smith says work will begin next year. "Something will be in the ground by 2012," he said.

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