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AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott wants lawmakers to pass legislation concerning public safety at a large residential development outside of Houston. It’s part of the third special session agenda and comes as far-right Republicans claim it’s harboring undocumented immigrants. The development is called Colony Ridge, and Thursday, lawmakers heard testimony about it from its CEO, John Harris, among others.
Colony Ridge, which is 30 miles northeast of Houston, is home to 30,000 to 40,000 people. Harris says most homeowners are from Harris County.
“We are able to provide them with an opportunity to build their lives, right, to better schools, lower crime than where they came from, and just an opportunity to have a part of the American dream and to own their own home,” Harris said.
A panel of lawmakers asked Harris to come to the Texas Capitol to discuss Colony Ridge. No related bill has been filed yet.
On Thursday, Attorney General Ken Paxton responded to U.S. House members who called on him and the governor to investigate Colony Ridge. He accused Colony Ridge of “attracting and enabling illegal alien settlement in the state of Texas.” Harris says Paxton has not visited the development but four of his staff members did.
Colony Ridge offers direct financing to potential buyers with no credit or Social Security number loan terms that are fueling the allegations about the development.
“We don’t know how many illegal immigrants are there,” Harris said. “We assume there are some, because I assume there are some in every neighborhood. But, just like every bank that I know of in Texas, we don’t ask status when we’re doing loans.”
After hearing testimony, Texas lawmakers seemed confused as to why some have an issue with Colony Ridge.
“Why, all of a sudden? Did you make somebody mad? What the hell happened? I mean, why are we even here doing this?” asked Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview.
Harris says he didn’t know the answer, but that a few neighbors at a nearby property are upset about the development.
The county sheriff says the only reason there’s more crime in Colony Ridge than other incorporated parts of Liberty County is because there’s simply more people there. And the county judge suggests the controversy surrounding the development comes at a convenient time — as a presidential election approaches — so some Republicans can stir up conversation about how the Biden administration has handled immigration policy.
“It does seem like there’s a fight that doesn’t really have anything to do with us, but maybe it turns out to be a good thing in the end, because I do get to tell my story,” Harris said.