Bill Text: TX HCR1 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Calling for the thorough investigation of the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County and expressing support for legislation that prohibits illegal immigrants from purchasing land in communities across Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-10-11 - Referred to State Affairs [HCR1 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HCR1-Introduced.html
| 88S30451 KSM-F | ||
| By: Oliverson | H.C.R. No. 1 | |
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| WHEREAS, Numerous properties in the Colony Ridge development | ||
| of Liberty County have been sold to illegal immigrants, resulting | ||
| in a national security concern that threatens the safety and | ||
| quality of life in local communities; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mortgage lenders are able to offer non-citizens | ||
| specialized loans that use individual tax identification numbers | ||
| instead of social security numbers; Colony Ridge Land, LLC, which | ||
| does business as Terrenos Houston, has sold land to customers using | ||
| ITIN loans, and its development's population has grown to include | ||
| an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 residents, many of whom are in the | ||
| country illegally; in addition, advertisements for Colony Ridge | ||
| properties have been published in Spanish through international | ||
| communication channels; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Colony Ridge and the surrounding area lack | ||
| sufficient law enforcement presence; this has attracted illegal | ||
| immigrants as well as cartel activity, and the Gulf and Sinaloa | ||
| cartels have reportedly purchased land in the development for safe | ||
| houses, which are used to smuggle drugs and people into the United | ||
| States; in addition, there is evidence of cartel involvement from | ||
| early in the development's history, and in 2021, the Drug | ||
| Enforcement Administration carried out the largest drug bust ever | ||
| in Liberty County when it raided a multimillion-dollar | ||
| methamphetamine manufacturing lab located inside a Colony Ridge | ||
| dwelling; other crimes that have occurred in the area include | ||
| murders, sexual assaults, and thefts; despite these issues, the | ||
| Liberty County Sheriff's Office has neglected to check immigration | ||
| status during routine stops; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Illegal immigration to Colony Ridge has led to | ||
| significant changes in the community's way of life; longtime | ||
| residents have reported disruptions such as excessive noise, | ||
| gunfire, and loud music; moreover, issues such as flooding, traffic | ||
| congestion, water pollution, and sewage problems have been | ||
| attributed to the rapid population growth; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Cleveland Independent School District is | ||
| required to accept local students even if they are non-citizens, | ||
| and over the past four years, enrollment has increased from 6,584 to | ||
| 12,400; the school district has worked to accommodate the influx of | ||
| students by building new schools and is reportedly hiring H-1B | ||
| beneficiaries to serve as foreign language teachers; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Illegal immigration to the Colony Ridge area has | ||
| negatively impacted the health, safety, and welfare of local | ||
| residents, and more must be done to prevent illegal immigrants from | ||
| settling in Texas communities; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas, | ||
| 3rd Called Session, hereby call for the thorough investigation of | ||
| the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County and express support | ||
| for legislation that prohibits illegal immigrants from purchasing | ||
| land in communities across Texas. | ||
