In a development that has garnered both regional and national attention, Colony Ridge, a community located north of Houston, found itself at the center of an immigration crackdown on Monday. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed a joint operation targeting "criminals & illegal immigrants" was underway, as he had been coordinating this effort with former Trump administration border czar Tom Homan. Abbott described the raid as the culmination of a multi-month collaboration between state and federal agencies.
While specifics of the operation remain undisclosed, this move to single out Colony Ridge is not without precedent. The community was previously put under a media microscope in 2023, drawing sharp criticism from conservative influencers and lawmakers who characterized it as a haven for undocumented immigrants and suggested connections with Mexican drug cartels. Gov. Abbott had called for an investigation into the area, as reported by FOX 7 Austin. Meanwhile, the Texas Attorney General's office sued the developers for deceptive sales, marketing, and lending practices, which has only added to the controversy surrounding Colony Ridge.
The community, which houses approximately 40,000 residents, has been a point of contention. Trey Harris, a co-owner of Colony Ridge, has defended the community by stating that most property owners are U.S. citizens and that only "a very small percentage" of residents might have undocumented status, as he told FOX 7 Austin. Furthermore, the Texas Tribune in 2024 reported that the developer's practices were brought to court by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, though John Harris, another co-owner of Colony Ridge, rebuffed the allegations of any fraudulent activity.
Details concerning the number of individuals detained, or whether anyone has been detained at all, has yet to be disclosed. Vocal criticism against the operation has been expressed by Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL, who stands in solidarity with the affected community. "We stand in solidarity with our community by informing them of their rights and denouncing the wave of terror directed at the Colony Ridge communities by the governor," Espinosa said, emphasizing the distress these actions have caused to families who come home to discover missing loved ones, as per the statement obtained by FOX 7 Austin.
Despite the heightened local law enforcement and the involvement of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, this operation at Colony Ridge stands among the most aggressive responses to issues of immigration and community enforcement, marking a notable chapter in Texas's ongoing dialogue on immigration policy. In a statement posted to social media, Governor Abbott said that DPS troopers and special agents were to actively support federal agents with this operation, as informed by WFAA, but further comments from officials have not been forthcoming.
