Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Massive Houston development known as Colony Ridge to house up to 200K ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS – Brighteon.TV

10/04/2023 / By Arsenio Toledo

Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to direct the Republican Party-led Texas Legislature to investigate a massive development in the Houston metro area that is allegedly being built in order to house up to 200,000 illegal immigrants.

The development in question is known as Colony Ridge, located just north of Houston in Liberty County that has become a “magnet for illegal immigrants” since 2011 due to being what is known as a “colonia.” (Related: WEF takes over former U.S. military bases in Panama as migrants flood through Darien Gap on their way to America.)

Colonia is a common name for illegal immigrant settlements meant to house Central and South Americans in the United States. The Office of the Attorney General of Texas defines colonias as housing developments usually found along the Texas-Mexico border, that are meant primarily to house illegal immigrants. These colonias are often built far below safety standards and lack basic utilities such as drinking water and sewage treatment and even do not have paved roads leading in and out.

Victor Avila, a former supervisory special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, noted in an interview with Ann Vandersteel on her Brighteon.TV program, “Right Now with Ann Vandersteel,” that colonias have been around in Texas for decades.

Avila noted that these developments are usually built under “third-world country-type conditions,” but businesses in Texas get away with creating them because “there’s a lot of money involved there.”

Because colonias are not necessarily built with the supervision of local authorities in mind, Avila said the people who live there are most likely illegal immigrants, including criminals ranging from human and sex traffickers, drug and weapons smugglers and even members of Mexican cartels. Avila warned that some of these colonias in Texas have become so large and notorious that “not even the local police go in there.”

The Colony Ridge development has come under scrutiny in recent weeks for potentially harboring tens of thousands of unlawful migrants, possibly even as many as 200,000, hence why Texas Republicans have accused the development of being a colonia.

“Serious concerns have been raised about what’s going on in this Colony Ridge area,” said Abbott during a radio interview. “We’re trying to put together as much information as possible so that I can add this to the special session.”

Abbott has already informed Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan of the Oct. 9 start date of the Texas Legislature’s special session. This special session is supposed to be primarily about school choice, but growing concerns over border security have prompted Abbott to consider expanding the scope of the session’s agenda. This expanded agenda would involve crafting new border security legislation and investigating Colony Ridge.

Colony Ridge president refutes “colonia” accusations

The Colony Ridge development began construction in 2011, with Colony Ridge, Inc. President John Harris claiming that since its foundation the development has “provided homeownership to thousands.”

Harris has also refuted claims that Colony Ridge is a colonia, saying that he and his development are currently the targets of “ongoing false media narratives and false statements” being perpetuated primarily by “out-of-state media outlets, politicians and special interest groups.”

In an open letter to state lawmakers, Harris called out the “salacious rumors and lies” claiming that Colony Ridge houses thousands of illegals and is a hotbed of cartel activity.

“We have followed the law fully, including screening all customers for potential terrorism and narcotics trafficking, following anti-discrimination laws and adhering to all county ordinances, environmental regulations and model subdivision rules,” he wrote. “Our development is not a ‘colonia’ … Further, allegations of drug cartel connections to Colony Ridge are preposterous and unfounded.”

Watch this Oct. 2 episode of “Right Now with Ann Vandersteel” as host Ann Vandersteel interviews Victor Avila about the situation at the border in Texas.

“Right Now with Ann Vandersteel” airs Monday to Saturday at 8 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.