Colony Ridge has become a breeding ground for criminal activity.
The sprawling development near Houston harbors thousands of illegal aliens and significant cartel operations.
Law enforcement presence has been minimal. Residents describe an atmosphere of lawlessness that threatens neighboring communities.
Colony Ridge advertises in Spanish, offering land for low down payments, creating a magnet for illegal aliens just minutes from Texas’ largest city, but authorities are finally taking action.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that state and federal authorities have launched a major operation targeting Colony Ridge. The governor made the announcement on social media, declaring the community would be “targeted” in a coordinated effort.
From Fox News:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that state authorities working with the Department of Homeland Security are conducting an immigration and law enforcement operation in Colony Ridge, a huge development known for attracting masses of illegal immigrants.
‘Colony Ridge is being targeted today,’ Abbott, announced on X on Monday.
The operation involves Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers and special agents working alongside Homeland Security Investigations. They are specifically targeting “criminals & illegal immigrants” according to Abbott’s statement.
The governor revealed he has been planning this operation with President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, “for months.”
DPS officers have reportedly been working throughout the Colony Ridge area for over two years. Monday’s operation represents a significant escalation in enforcement efforts.
Multiple arrests were witnessed by residents throughout the community.
Local media reported that residents captured images of law enforcement officials making arrests in several neighborhoods. One resident, Roberto Alfaro, witnessed officers pulling over a truck at 7 a.m. in front of his home.
He photographed what appeared to be officers with men whose hands were behind their backs.
Alfaro told local media:
They basically forced them out. My neighbor, he was screaming at them, basically saying that to not speak, to not resist.
The incident left his parents fearful and crying.
Residents expressed shock at the sudden enforcement action. Some locked themselves in their homes out of fear. Others shared updates on social media about police locations throughout the community.
One Colony Ridge resident, Enrique Quintero, was at a local tire shop when at least six Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived.
They arrested the shop owner for lacking proper work permits. Quintero described the owner as an older Mexican man who had lived in Texas for 20 years.
Federal agents, some wearing masks and carrying long guns, conducted operations throughout the day.
The Houston Chronicle reported:
[N]eighbors offered to pick up each other’s children from school as some residents feared leaving their homes.
Colony Ridge, located approximately 30 miles northeast of Houston, is home to an estimated 40,000 residents. Many are Hispanic immigrants.
The community has been a focal point of controversy with Republican leaders identifying it as a hotspot for undocumented immigrants and crime.
Colony Ridge’s developers have faced legal challenges. Both the U.S. Department of Justice and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits against the development company. The lawsuits allege deceptive trade practices and predatory lending targeting Hispanic consumers.
Despite these controversies, Colony Ridge CEO John Harris issued a statement supporting the enforcement operation:
We are grateful for the efforts of Governor Abbott, Tom Homan and all those involved in rooting out criminal illegals in Texas.
The developer maintained:
Colony Ridge remains one of the safest communities of its size anywhere in Texas.
This claim contradicts reports of cartel activity and lawlessness within the development.
The Trump administration has prioritized immigration enforcement since taking office last month. Border czar Tom Homan announced at the Conservative Political Action Conference that ICE arrested 21,000 illegal aliens in Trump’s first month as president.
Homan said:
I’m happy with the numbers.
But I’m not going to be satisfied until every criminal alien gang member, every criminal alien, every Tren de Aragua [gang member] is eradicated from this country and [we’ve] sent their a– to Gitmo, where they belong.
The Colony Ridge operation represents the fulfillment of campaign promises to enforce immigration laws. It demonstrates the effectiveness of coordination between state and federal authorities in addressing illegal entry into the U.S.
