They came to Colony Ridge for affordable land and are now in the crosshairs of ICE and the Texas government

Colony Ridge , a development located in Liberty County, Texas, has attracted hundreds of immigrants in recent years with the promise of affordable land and a stable future. However, what seemed like an opportunity to own a home ended up becoming a nightmare for many Latino families, who now face not only financial problems, but also the risk of being deported , a possibility that grew exponentially during the recent operation that took place with 118 detainees .

Not long ago, the Lone Star State experienced a moment of legal tension due to alleged fraud by a company selling land in the aforementioned neighborhood located northeast of Houston. Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Colony Ridge Land LLC in 2023 for fraudulent practices in the marketing of land for construction.

According to the prosecutor's investigation, the company took advantage of low-income buyers , mostly Hispanics and immigrants , with false promises about the viability of the lots. Many of these properties lacked basic infrastructure, such as running water, electricity and sewage systems, among other features.

According to the lawsuit, the Colony Ridge-based company's strategy also consisted of attracting buyers without access to credit by offering them direct financing without the need for income verification. These benefits tempted many foreigners who had recently arrived in the country and who did not have many financial or legal resources.

Despite this supposed initial help, high interest rates and lack of clarity in the contracts meant that many owners were unable to keep up with their payments, leading to rapid foreclosures. The prosecutor's office found that the rate set for this action was 50 times higher than the national average in 2023. This means that a large number of families who invested their savings in these plots lost them in just a few months, while the company resold the same properties to new buyers with similar misleading promises.

As the Colony Ridge community grew, so did the attention of law enforcement. Since the start of Donald Trump’s second term, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has repeatedly called the area an “ illegal immigrant settlement ” and ordered joint operations between state and federal agencies in the area.

At the beginning of this week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies intensified their operations in the area, sparking fear among the families facing the risk of being deported .

According to the official report , 118 people were arrested during Monday's raids. The statement said some of those arrested are criminals accused of “ sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, homicide ,” among other crimes.

The current reality is one of uncertainty for certain immigrant families who came to Colony Ridge hoping to build a home. While some seek legal support and hide from authorities to avoid deportation , others are still trying to recover their investment in land that does not live up to its promise.