Mario Carranza put a mobile home on a $28,000 lot in Colony Ridge, one of Texas’ largest neighborhoods, lured by cheap land and the chance for his family to escape the crime he said was rampant around their apartment in nearby Houston fourth.

We’re in a good place here,” said Carranza, 65, who now drives about an hour to his maintenance job in a Houston suburb.

But his quiet neighborhood is now in an unwanted national spotlight. For weeks, conservative media and Republican activists in Texas have pushed baseless claims that Colony Ridge has become a magnet for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and that cartels control parts of the neighborhood.

There is no evidence to support the claims, and residents, local officials and the developer dispute the images. The unsubstantiated reports have spread quickly and gained popularity among Republicans, including the governor of Texas. Greg Abbott and the Governor of Florida. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president.

The attention has abruptly thrust Liberty County, a Republican stronghold that former President Trump won by nearly 80% in 2020, into the center of immigration politics despite being hundreds of miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. Republicans see immigration as a central issue in next year’s elections, and the unsubstantiated reports come as large groups of migrants from Central and South America have entered Texas.

Colony Ridge’s developer is Trey Harris, who has donated more than $1 million to Abbott’s campaigns. While driving around the neighborhood in a white Ford pickup on Tuesday, Harris complained about the claims. He has invited lawmakers to see the development for themselves

this week

.

I’m surprised and a little disappointed [Abbott] made no attempt to learn more about the facts before he went on national television and started talking, Harris said.

Abbott, whose office did not return messages seeking comment, asked lawmakers Thursday to “discuss areas like the Colony Ridge development during a special legislative session starting next week,” but made no specific proposals.

Last month, DeSantis wrote: I will end this, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Laws do not prohibit non-US citizens from purchasing homes. While many in Liberty County acknowledge that there are people living in Colony Ridge who lack documentation, they pushed back on the claim that they represent the majority of residents, describing their community as no different than many neighborhoods across Texas.

It bothers me that people accuse my clients of being drug dealers, cartels and organized crime. Come on, man, Harris said. These are families who want a better place to raise their children. They want better schools for their children. They want better opportunities for their children.

The development broke ground 20 years ago, leaving some in Liberty County puzzled by the timing of the recent investigation. The area borders San Jacinto County, where a Mexican is said to have murdered five of his Honduran neighbors in April.

Harris said he believes some of the criticism is related to racial issues Colony Ridge previously faced from a city adjacent to the fast-growing development, which he said has a population of about 40,000.

Zayda Cerrato, 43, moved to Colony Ridge from California about six years ago at the encouragement of an uncle who lived there. She said she was drawn there in part by the greenery and vegetation that surrounds the project, which is carved out of the pine forests that cover eastern Texas.

Some residents, like Cerrato, who is from Honduras, have built mobile homes on their land. Others have built permanent homes with manicured lawns that wouldn’t look out of place in a typical suburban neighborhood. Harris said the community is still growing and has several new schools. New shopping centers with companies such as Pizza Hut and Subway are also part of the development.

My life here is very peaceful. I don’t bother with anyone, Cerrato said as she left a supermarket. From my work to my house, from my house to my work. I only visit stores when necessary. I would describe it as very peaceful.

The explosive growth of the area has not been without problems. The school district in nearby Cleveland has nearly three times as many students as it did a decade ago, and is struggling to create enough space for them. The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office says it needs more officers to patrol the region, but described the crime rate as no worse than other parts of Texas.

They are the normal phone calls. The volume is just higher, said Billy Knox, chief sheriff’s deputy.

Carranza, who is from Mexico and became a U.S. citizen 10 years ago, says growing traffic has caused some streets to fall into disrepair.

If there’s one thing Abbott wants to say about Colony Ridge, it should be that, he said.

Tell the governor to come here so he can fix the streets, Carranza said.

Weber reported from Austin, Texas.