A new billboard in Texas has grabbed the attention of readers with the saying: "Texas is for everyone - not for bigotry" as tensions in the state rise over immigrants fleeing violence cross the US-Mexico border illegally.

The large sign in Amarillo, Texas, was a response to another billboard on the same I-40 highway near the town of Vega, Texas, which read: "Liberals please continue on I-40 until you have left our GREAT STATE OF TEXAS".

The new digital sign was crowdfunded by resident Roman Leal. He raised more than $3,700 in just five days for the sign when his original goal was $1,800. "We need a sign that represents the true, hospitable spirit of the great state of Texas," he wrote in the campaign.

The original billboard, owned by a company called Burkett Outdoor Advertising, has since taken it down and issued a refund to the customer who ordered it after a massive social media reaction. The customer's identity has not been revealed.

Mr Leal had written that the new digital sign gave Texans "a chance to put our best boot forward" as drivers pass it on the east-west highway in the northwestern, panhandle part of the state.

The state has been historically Republican and political tensions have increased once again over the immigration policies of Donald Trump's administration. The government had been separating children from families if they had crossed the US-Mexico border illegally.

‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy Show all 8 1 /8 ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy Mishawaka, Indiana AP ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy Washington DC AFP/Getty Images ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy New York Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks in Tornillo, Texas alongside the many other US mayors who have called for detained immigrant children to be reunited with their families AP ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kelle leaves a teddy bear as a gift for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti leave sandals as gifts for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy US embassy, Mexico City AFP/Getty Images ‘Families belong together’ protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA

That policy was reversed late last week after public outrage coming from both sides of the political spectrum but families are still being detained despite seeking asylum in the US, which is not a crime under American immigration law.