Imperial Valley Press

Veteran draws millions in donations for Trump’s border wall

- BY TERRY TANG

Kolfage wrote.

A triple amputee injured in the Iraq War in 2004, Kolfage said he has contacted the Trump administra­tion about where to send the money once the fundraiser ends.

Trump announced Thursday he would not sign a bill to keep funding the government because it fails to provide billions for his border wall. It was his second reversal in a matter of days after conservati­ve allies and pundits accused him of backing down on a central campaign promise. His decision has thrown Congress into disarray and risks a federal shutdown this weekend.

Kolfage, who is listed on GoFundMe as being based in Miramar Beach, Florida, said in an email that he was not immediatel­y available to comment.

The reception toward Kolfage’s fundraisin­g is far from the reaction when Arizona lawmakers similarly tried to raise money for border fencing several years ago.

Legislator­s approved a bill in 2011 to establish a website to raise $50 million for border fencing. The effort, however, flopped, bringing in around $265,000.

Kolfage’s page inspired at least one opposing fundraisin­g page. A GoFundMe fundraiser was created Wednesday to raise money for “ladders to get over Trump’s wall.” The site posted a goal of $100 million and garnered more than $20,000 in donations as of Thursday afternoon. All the money will go toward a nonprofit that provides education and legal services to refugees and immigrant families.

 ??  ?? In this AprIl 1, 2015, file photo, retired Air Force Airman Brian Kolfage (right) gives a piece of cheese to his 1-year-old daughter Paris Kolfage as his wife Ashley Kolfage looks on at their recently rented home in Sandestin, Fla. NICK TOMECEK/NORTHWEST
In this AprIl 1, 2015, file photo, retired Air Force Airman Brian Kolfage (right) gives a piece of cheese to his 1-year-old daughter Paris Kolfage as his wife Ashley Kolfage looks on at their recently rented home in Sandestin, Fla. NICK TOMECEK/NORTHWEST

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