Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the state legislature will convene a special session next month to address the Colony Ridge housing development north of Houston, which has become a focal point for illegal immigration and potential drug cartel activity. The governor expressed serious concerns about the development and mentioned that subpoenas have been issued to developers to investigate the financial aspects of the project. He also asked the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to initiate a new investigation.
Colony Ridge, covering approximately 60 square miles and housing tens of thousands of people, has attracted illegal immigrants due to financing arrangements tailored for non-citizens. It has also experienced a surge in crime, leading officials to fear that Mexican cartels could use it as a foothold in the United States.
Both Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton have called for legislative action to address the problems associated with Colony Ridge. The Republican Party of Texas passed a resolution urging Governor Abbott to convene a special legislative session to investigate the development. Critics have also raised concerns about political donations from the development’s owner to Governor Abbott’s campaign.
The situation at Colony Ridge has garnered attention from multiple U.S. congressmen and other politicians, with many expressing concerns about its implications for border security and immigration policies.