A fund created by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to defend the state's controversial immigration law has received more than 9,000 contributions worth about $500,000, the Associated Press is reporting.

The majority of the contributions, about 7,000, came from out of state, according to the AP. The law is the focus of several lawsuits, including one filed earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Brewer created the fund and a website, www.keepazsafe.com, in mid-June.

Opponents of the Arizona law, including President Obama, say it could lead to profiling and a state-by-state patchwork of immigration laws. Proponents, such as Brewer, say states should step in because the federal government hasn't.

Polls, such as this one by Gallup, show a majority of Americans support the state law. The law requires police to question the immigration status of suspects when there is "reasonable suspicion" they are in the country illegally.

(Posted by John Fritze)