Texas Gov. Abbott says border wall construction ‘has officially begun’ in news conference

AUSTIN, TexasUpdate at 3:30 p.m.:

‘Building a wall in Texas has officially begun,” Gov. Greg Abbott said during a press conference on Wednesday.

Here are highlights from Gov. Abbott’s news conference:

  • The State of Texas has allocated $250 million as a down payment toward building the wall.
  • The down payment will fund the hiring of a program manager to oversee the project and to hire contractors, subcontractors.
  • State land and volunteer land will yield hundreds of miles in Texas for the wall.
  • Abbott will send a letter to President Joe Biden to demand the immediate return of land confiscated by federal government for the building of a wall in Texas.
  • Abbott says Texans can donate money for the building of the wall through a website or by sending to PO Box address.
  • The governor says some Texans have already donated money.

Original story:

Gov. Greg Abbott is set to discuss his plans for the Texas-Mexico border on Wednesday during a news conference.

The news conference begins at 3 p.m. at the Capitol in Austin with Republicans Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan joining the governor.

Abbott announced last week during a trip to Del Rio that he would present plans for Texas to build its own wall. He said he will utilize crowdfunding as a way to help pay for the construction, according to the Texas Tribune.

Abbott also said he will provide a link, so that anyone across the country can contribute to building the wall.

While the details of the border wall are still unknown, some lawmakers are unsure of what these plans could entail.

In an interview with KSAT last week, state Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, D-San Antonio, said, the situation “feels more like politics than substance.”

The politics behind the move could be an attempt by Abbott to boost his conservative profile for a potential run at president and covering his right flank for a reelection bid in the 2022 GOP primary.

Former President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he will join Abbott on Wednesday, June 30. for an official visit to the Texas-Mexico border. Click here for more information.

More on the KSAT Border page:

Gov. Greg Abbott announces task force to strategize how to crack down on border crossings

Analysis: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott heads for the border


About the Authors:

Emily Martin is the KSAT Insider Membership Producer. She earned a journalism degree from Texas State University, where she was news director at KTSW, the campus radio station. She has also interned at KXAN and KUT in Austin.

David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.