This Texas Bill Could Identify The Foreign Buyers In Illegal Immigrant-Haven Colony Ridge

A Republican Texas state representative has introduced legislation to improve property sale transparency in an attempt to address issues surrounding Colony Ridge, a sprawling Texas development that’s become notorious for attracting illegal aliens through its marketing operations and loan schemes.

Rep. Janis Holt of Texas’ 18th State House district introduced the legislation, House Bill 2519, as a response to concerns surrounding the 60-square mile land development north of Houston that the Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have accused of rapidly flipping properties and churning buyers through a cycle of foreclosure.

The legislation would establish a more thorough record-keeping system for property sales for government use.

Rep. @JanisHolt59 is working on legislation to address the growing concerns surrounding Colony Ridge, located in HD 18. Stay tuned for more information on this pressing issue! #txlege pic.twitter.com/oycxb5OPMk

— Texas House Republican Caucus (@TXGOPCaucus) February 5, 2025

“One of the major issues in my district is Colony Ridge. Colony Ridge is one of the largest — if not the largest — illegal immigrant settlement in Texas and probably in the United States,” Holt said in a video posted on X by the Texas House Republican Caucus. “I am laser-focused on finding solutions to the problems that surround Colony Ridge.”

“My signature legislation will be to create a form to track real property transfers in order to bring transparency to all property sales, including properties bought with cash,” Holt stated, adding that the bill would also reduce title fraud cases.

The legislation could provide additional clarity as to who exactly lives in Colony Ridge. An initial investigation by The Daily Wire in 2023 found that Colony Ridge appears to market specifically to foreign buyers, encouraging potential customers to “own land in the United States” and communicating with them via WhatsApp, a platform commonly used for international communication.

Federal authorities have recently caught numerous criminals in the development, including one Guatemalan illegal alien smuggler who is believed to have been involved in a “mass casualty event” in which more than 50 people died when a tractor-trailer crashed. The man owned at least three homes in Colony Ridge as he hid from federal authorities.

BREAKING: A Guatemalan illegal alien smuggler bought property and hid out in Colony Ridge as the feds hunted him down for his involvement in a ‘mass casualty event.’

The smuggler was arrested yesterday at his Colony Ridge home in a joint operation with the DHS, DOJ and ICE. ????

— Spencer Lindquist ???????? (@SpencerLndqst) December 10, 2024

Deportation operations are now underway in Colony Ridge, with federal immigration enforcement agents believed to have captured an El Salvadorean illegal alien wanted for murder, among others.

Holt also discussed the issue with President Donald Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, in early January. In a Facebook post, Holt explained that “addressing the challenges posed by Colony Ridge requires coordinated efforts at the federal, state and local levels ” and called it “a priority that demands action and accountability.”

“I enjoyed my conversation with Border Czar Tom Homan. We will coordinate with his office and attack this issue head on,” she added.

Holt took the seat previously held by Ernest Bailes, a Republican who, The Daily Wire reported, received campaign donations from Colony Ridge developer William “Trey” Harris. Colony Ridge was one of the core issues raised in the primary, with Bailes attempting to defend his record on the development while other ads attacked him for it.