Legislation that would allow property owners who live along Arizona’s border with Mexico to erect border fences without a permit has stalled, after a Republican no-vote left the party’s caucus without a majority.
Democrat Kirsten Engel opposed the measure on environmental grounds.
“We have 346 species that are native to our border region," said Engel. "So having more walls of course impedes their ability to move back and forth across the border.”
The bill’s initial sponsor, Republican House majority leader Warren Petersen, says it’s the government’s job to protect people.
“We do need to protect a species — the human species. They’re an extremely important species that we should care for and watch over.”
The state Legislature hasn’t set a date to reconsider the measure.