Donations For Defending Arizona Law Near $3.7M

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona has received more than 43,000 contributions totaling nearly $3.7 million for the legal defense of its controversial law targeting illegal immigration.

Responding to a public records request from The Associated Press, Gov. Jan Brewer's office says the state spent nearly $1.6 million on credit-card fees and legal bills for work through Nov. 30.

That leaves $2.1 million as of Friday in the fund set up to pay for defending the law signed by Brewer last year.

The case now includes a counterclaim filed by Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne against the federal government as part of the state's response to the federal lawsuit challenging parts of the law.

The counterclaim contends the state faces huge costs due to a federal government failure to secure the border and enforce immigration laws.