Texas DPS and Homeland Security Conduct Raid on Colony Ridge

Image credits: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune

The Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations are conducting an operation in Colony Ridge, a housing development located approximately 30 miles northeast of Houston, according to an announcement made by Gov. Greg Abbott on social media. The operation aims to apprehend "criminals & illegal immigrants" and is being carried out with the assistance of Texas DPS troopers and special agents. This initiative follows a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the developers of Colony Ridge, alleging deceptive trade practices, real estate transaction fraud, and other state and federal law violations.

The lawsuit claims that the developers engaged in misleading sales, marketing, and lending practices, targeting foreign-born and Hispanic consumers with limited credit access. The developers have been accused of selling relatively inexpensive plots of land, often to individuals with limited or no access to traditional credit, and purchasers were often sold land lacking essential infrastructure, leading to high foreclosure rates and financial losses for buyers. The community of Colony Ridge has been a focal point of controversy, with Republican leaders labeling it a hotspot for undocumented immigrants and crime. The operation is ongoing, and updates are expected as authorities continue their efforts in the area, with the governor working closely with Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's "border czar," to target the development.

Colony Ridge is home to an estimated 40,000 residents, many of whom are Hispanic immigrants. The development has been under scrutiny from conservative lawmakers and media for selling land to undocumented people. The extent of any enforcement is not immediately clear, with spokespersons for the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Gov. Abbott not responding to requests for more information. Any widespread arrests targeting residents of Colony Ridge for their immigration status would be among the most aggressive law enforcement actions to date since the development became a right-wing lightning rod in 2023. The operation is part of a larger effort to address concerns about immigration and crime in the area.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the developers in December 2023 for allegedly running a predatory lending scheme that preyed on Latino homebuyers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton later sued the developers as well over similar accusations, despite having received complaints from residents for years about the developer's lending practices. The developers have denied any wrongdoing, but the investigation and operation are ongoing. The situation is being closely monitored, and updates are expected as more information becomes available. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations are working together to ensure that the operation is carried out in a fair and lawful manner.

The timeline of events leading up to the operation is as follows: * March 2024: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton files a lawsuit against the developers of Colony Ridge, alleging deceptive trade practices and real estate transaction fraud * December 2023: The U.S. Department of Justice sues the developers for allegedly running a predatory lending scheme * 2023: Colony Ridge becomes a right-wing lightning rod, with conservative lawmakers and media labeling it a hotspot for undocumented immigrants and crime The operation in Colony Ridge is a significant development in the ongoing debate about immigration and crime in the area, and it is likely to have a major impact on the community and the state as a whole.