China major focus of Colony Ridge charter schools



A group of charter schools serving Colony Ridge as well as other parts of Texas apparently places a heavy emphasis on Chinese language and culture, raising more eyebrows about an area already overloaded with ramshackle housing, high crime, dilapidated roads, and fetid water.

On March 27, International Leadership of Texas, better known as ILTexas, broke ground on ILTexas Liberty High School in the Santa Fe subsection of Colony Ridge. Once it opens sometime in the summer of 2026, the high school will be the third ILTexas school in the Colony Ridge area, joining ILTexas BG Ramírez K-8 and ILTexas MSG Ramírez K-8.

During the groundbreaking ceremony marking the occasion, ILTexas students paraded about with a Chinese dragon while traditional Chinese music played in the background. That presentation featured heavily in Colony Ridge's YouTube video promoting the event.

'China is now the second-largest economy, so more than ever, it is critical that future generations are prepared for today’s internationally connected world.'

Chinese also features prominently in the curricula at ILTexas schools. ILTexas schools claim to teach from a "global perspective," and all students are expected to "master" the languages of English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese, its websites says.

The website spends little time discussing either English or Spanish. In fact, the default language setting on the website is British English, not American English. American English is not listed among the seven language options offered.

However, the website makes repeated reference to the importance of China and Chinese languages, especially Mandarin. In fact, ILTexas opened a school in China in 2016 with the promise of opening at least two others, though whether any of those schools remain open currently is unclear.

"China is now the second-largest economy, so more than ever, it is critical that future generations are prepared for today’s internationally connected world," the website explains.

ILTexas also dedicated an entire month to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. "Activities at campus celebrations include the Dragon Dance, Loop the Dragon, Beijing Opera Mask Painting, Chinese Calligraphy, Handmade Chinese Paper Lanterns, Dumpling-Making, and much more!" said a February 2024 press release.

A search of the word "Christmas" on the ILTexas website yielded just two results, and only one of those was about the holiday itself. However, even that news release was about a Toys for Tots campaign that mainly referred to the "winter holiday" or the "holiday season." The only time the word "Christmas" was mentioned in the news release was in a quotation taken from the Marine Corps Toys for Tots nonprofit.

ILTexas founder and Superintendent Eddie Conger, a former teacher and retired Marine Corps officer, likewise places a heavy emphasis on Chinese-related education. In his bio for the Texas Charter School Association, Conger brags that he once "started a Chinese language and student exchange program" at a public high school in Dallas that eventually grew to include over 600 students.

At the groundbreaking ceremony in March, Conger indicated that the Chinese education students receive at ILTexas would open up opportunities in "national intelligence" for them. He described Chinese as a "national security language" and boasted about taking the top ILTexas students to the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C.

Colony Ridge has also touted the partnership with ILTexas. "ILTexas has a program that gives kids an opportunity like no other school on the planet," co-owner John Harris said in March.

"We believe that the trilingual curriculum and focus on critical thinking and problem-solving will help our students thrive in any field they choose to pursue," Harris said about the opening of another Colony Ridge ILTexas school in 2023.

ILTexas did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

One of the many complaints about Colony Ridge has been the fact that the sudden explosion in population in the area has led to overcrowded public schools. To learn more about this and other problems associated with the controversial development, check out the Blaze Originals documentary about it below:

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Colony Ridge boss hobnobbed with Gov. Abbott, who helped development receive key federal designation: Report



A new report from the Daily Wire reveals that Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott had a hand in making Colony Ridge, the controversial Texas development area, a designated Opportunity Zone after rubbing elbows with a Colony Ridge executive.

The Opportunity Zone program, created early in President Donald Trump's first term, helps encourage private funding for low-income areas by offering enticing tax incentives to investors. Five years after an initial investment in an Opportunity Zone, a portion of the capital gains earned on the investment can be exempted from taxes. After 10 years, all capital gains are tax-exempt, the Daily Wire explained.

According to documents acquired by the Daily Wire through public information requests, Abbott sent a letter to then-Treasury Sec. Steven Mnuchin on March 21, 2018, asking the Treasury Department to consider designating the census tract that includes Colony Ridge an Opportunity Zone.

On April 6, 2018, Abbott sent a second letter on the topic, and by April 10, he had sent a third letter.

'There is no evidence to suggest Abbott was aware of the Colony Ridge business model.'

By happenstance, William "Trey" Harris, a co-owner of Colony Ridge, and state Sen. Brandon Creighton (R) had attended a luncheon at the governor's mansion on April 4, about two weeks after Abbott's first letter and just two days before his second letter.

Harris and Abbott have not commented on the conversation during that luncheon, and Creighton could only recall to the Daily Wire discussions about "the history of the grounds" of the mansion and "the property and the home itself."

However, by July 2018, the IRS had approved the Colony Ridge census tract to be considered an Opportunity Zone, just a couple of weeks after Trey Harris made his first direct donation — a cool $100,000 or so — to Abbott's campaign coffers. His wife, Celeste Harris, had already donated a similar amount on March 19, two days before Abbott sent the first letter.

Trey Harris made multiple appearances at the governor's mansion in 2018. He attended a "summer kickoff fiesta" in May as well as a reception in December.

All told, Mr. and Mrs. Harris contributed approximately $1.5 million to Abbott between 2018 and 2022, good enough to make Trey Harris Abbott's 15th highest individual donor, the Daily Wire said.

Despite these connections, Abbott denied that Harris alone prompted him to advocate on behalf of the Colony Ridge-area census tract. Other individuals likewise hoped for the Opportunity Zone tag, spokesman Andrew Mahaleris told the Daily Wire.

Moreover, the Opportunity Zone designation "did not create" the problems at the Colony Ridge development, Mahaleris added. "Governor Abbott is ensuring safety there and across the state," he continued. "Governor Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to investigate any potential environmental issues in Colony Ridge, whether it be air, water, or land."

The Daily Wire noted that "there is no evidence to suggest Abbott was aware of the Colony Ridge business model, which openly targets immigrant populations." Still, the development has highlighted its Opportunity Zone designation — brought about in part by Abbott — in multiple ad campaigns.

A Colony Ridge representative declined a request for comment from the Daily Wire.

'He’s a politician; it is what it is. He’s got to cover his butt first.'

Dubbed "the world's largest trailer park," Colony Ridge has made national headlines in recent years after residents — many of whom are in the U.S. illegally — began complaining about inadequate infrastructure, fetid water, crumbling roads, and rampant crime, as Blaze News previously reported.

In February, federal law enforcement agents raided the area, nabbing 118 individuals who were either suspected or convicted of heinous crimes, including murder and child sexual abuse. Many of the arrestees were also illegal aliens.

At the time, Abbott celebrated news of the raid, claiming he and border czar Tom Homan had been planning it "for months."

Spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris indicated to the Daily Wire that Abbott will continue to help federal, state, and local officers enforce the law in Colony Ridge.

"These teams will coordinate with Homeland Security agencies to track down the thousands of illegal immigrants with active warrants across Texas and deport them from our country," Mahaleris said.

Abbott has attempted to distance himself from Colony Ridge, and Trey Harris has since apparently withdrawn his financial support.

"He’s a politician; it is what it is. He’s got to cover his butt first," Harris told the New York Times in 2023. "But don’t expect a million dollars next year. It ain’t happening again, brother."

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Colony Ridge will sell to illegal aliens for shockingly low down payment: Project Veritas video



New undercover video from Project Veritas reveals the shocking truth about just how cavalier Colony Ridge associates have been in their selling and lending practices.

Colony Ridge, a massive land development, stretches nearly 34,000 acres in a rural part of Liberty County, Texas, about a half-hour north of Houston. Nicknamed "the world's largest trailer park," Colony Ridge is littered with ramshackle housing, stray animals, dangerously unstable roads, and even fetid water, as Blaze News previously reported.

One of the main reasons for the manifold problems at Colony Ridge is its lax lending and selling protocols. Marketing to Spanish-speaking immigrants — many of whom may be in the U.S. illegally and are therefore less likely to report incidents of crime and exploitation — Colony Ridge Land LLC has apparently provided financing to citizens and foreigners alike whose ability to afford it remains in doubt.

'We'll finance our residential lots [for] as low as 500 bucks down.'

Pretending to be prospective buyers, undercover Project Veritas journalists spoke with two Colony Ridge Land LLC associates: commercial sales agent Justin Chaney and Sandy Moreno, a sales agent from Terrenos Houston, a real estate group tied to Colony Ridge.

According to Moreno, most foreign buyers at Colony Ridge come from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Cuba. When pressed, she confirmed that Colony Ridge also sells to Chinese investors.

One PV journalist also asked Chaney and Moreno about "undocumented" buyers potentially purchasing property in Colony Ridge, and they both indicated that Colony Ridge takes a "don't ask, don't tell" approach in such cases.

"I don’t check anybody’s citizenship status," Chaney replied. "... I don’t mess with that."

"We do not check that," Moreno later reiterated.

"They won’t ask proof — they won’t," she continued, though she added that buyers must be "residents of Texas."

Chaney noted that checking immigration status in such cases is "illegal," and noncitizens do have the same rights to own real estate in America as citizens. Moreno claimed that foreign forms of ID, including passports and driver's licenses from other countries, are acceptable documentation for securing financing.

— (@)

Still, illegal immigrants often have other issues regarding income and credit that make acquiring a loan difficult. But Colony Ridge Land LLC apparently offers such loose terms for loan approval that many such illegal aliens qualify nonetheless.

"If they financially qualify and they can produce a site plan ... and they can meet the timelines and expectations of our contract and they can afford it ... we’re gonna sell it to 'em," Chaney brags on the PV video.

"We'll finance our residential lots [for] as low as 500 bucks down," he explains.

"We sell to anybody who fits that criteria."

For context, homebuyers across America make an average down payment of approximately $34,000. Texas homebuyers typically put down just over $20,000, according to Robert Dicks, a military veteran who blogs about Texas real estate.

Terrenos Houston will even finance "bulk" sales, Moreno indicated to PV. In response to a question about "50 people in Mexico" looking to settle in Colony Ridge, she replied: "We can negotiate that."

Chaney estimated that about 55,000 people currently live in Colony Ridge, dispersed among 12,600 total "rooftops," an interesting descriptor considering that some homes there are just tents constructed out of tarps and wood.

A year ago, Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader guessed the number of Colony Ridge residents could be as high as 75,000 and told Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck that "a majority" of them are likely illegal immigrants.

Just last week, border czar Tom Homan and members of various federal agencies made 118 arrests in Colony Ridge as part of ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to address the immigration crisis. Homan later said that during the Colony Ridge raid, they apprehended several dangerous individuals.

"I know there's one that was convicted of either homicide or murder," Homan said. Child sexual predators were likewise arrested, he said.

"A lot of the people we're interested in were located in that area."

Blaze Media has extensively covered the horrendous conditions and questionable lending practices at Colony Ridge. Last year, co-founder Glenn Beck hosted a Blaze Originals documentary about the problems there called "The Real Story of Colony Ridge." A trailer for the documentary can be seen below. Click here for the full-length BlazeTV video.

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ICE arrests over 100 in Colony Ridge — and Tom Homan promises more to come



Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made over 100 arrests in the controversial Texas development Colony Ridge earlier this week in a massive raid that a Trump official claims is only "phase one" of a larger operation.

On Monday, ICE arrested 118 individuals in the Colony Ridge area, a sprawling 33,000-acre development about a half-hour north of Houston. Some of those arrested already had outstanding warrants. Others were detained during traffic stops.

Perez is allegedly a member of the vicious transnational gang MS-13 and had previously been deported on suspicion of murder.

According to an X post from ICE, the arrestees have either been accused or convicted of crimes such as homicide, manslaughter, sexual abuse of a minor, and offenses related to drugs and/or weapons.

— (@)

Though the agency did not release details about most of the individuals, a spokesperson did note that one allegedly repeat offender was among them. Florentin Chevez-Luna, 39, was wanted for allegedly repeatedly sexually abusing a minor between November 2008 and November 2016, according to the Texas Tribune. Chevez-Luna, believed to be a native of El Salvador, had already been deported from the U.S. three times.

Luis Perez, 34, was also apprehended after the Texas Department of Public Safety received a report about a homicide in the area during the massive raid. Perez is allegedly a member of the vicious transnational gang MS-13 and had previously been deported on suspicion of murder, KRIV reported.

Trump border czar Tom Homan helped lead the Colony Ridge operation, and he appears satisfied with the result. "A lot of the people we're interested in were located in that area," Homan told Fox News.

"I know there's one that was convicted of either homicide or murder," Homan continued. Several known child sexual predators were likewise picked up in the raid.

Still, Homan believes this initial raid is only "phase one" of a "larger criminal investigation" planned for Colony Ridge.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first announced the Colony Ridge operation, tweeting on Monday that "criminals & illegal immigrants" in Colony Ridge were "being targeted" by federal and state law enforcement. "Texas DPS Troopers & Special Agents are assisting Homeland Security Investigations," Abbott's post continued. "... I have worked with Tom Homan on this for months."

'It seems like they’re just pulling people over and then escalating that from there.'

Despite this announcement, Houston Landing seemed to downplay the operation. The outlet claimed that "conspiracy theorists" had largely cooked up associations between Colony Ridge and cartel activity. The outlet also cited DPS public information officer Sgt. Erik Burse, who indicated that Abbott's tweet overstated the scope of the issue.

"We’ve been here for two years. It’s nothing new for what we’re doing," Burse said. "All of a sudden you get a tweet, and it just blows up."

The operation was apparently unusual enough to alarm immigration activists. Members of FIEL Houston held a press conference Monday to denounce it.

"It seems like they’re just pulling people over and then escalating that from there," said executive director Cesar Espinoza.

The group also alleged that ICE officials had apprehended a woman at a Family Dollar store, but the store denied the allegation. "No Family Dollar customers or employees were detained during the visit," a Family Dollar spokesperson said in a statement.

Colony Ridge executives said in a statement that they applaud federal and local law enforcement for arresting "criminal illegals in Texas." They also claimed they "fully support these efforts," KHOU reported.

Blaze Media has extensively covered the horrendous conditions and questionable lending practices at Colony Ridge. Last year, co-founder Glenn Beck hosted a Blaze Originals documentary about the problems there called "The Real Story of Colony Ridge." A trailer for the documentary can be seen below. Click here for the full-length BlazeTV video.

- YouTube

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Illegal alien haven Colony Ridge targeted by Trump immigration officials: Gov. Abbott



On Monday, federal and state law enforcement reportedly descended upon Colony Ridge, the controversial land development near Houston, as part of ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to deport illegal aliens.

Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, has apparently been planning to investigate Colony Ridge for some time. "Colony Ridge is being targeted today," Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott posted to X. "... I have worked with Tom Homan on this for months."

Abbott indicated that the operation will involve both Homeland Security agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and will "target" criminals and illegal immigrants alike. Officials have alleged for years that drug cartels run rampant in the development, allegations that Houston Landing described as "conspiracy theories."

Houston Landing also indicated that the operation touted by Abbott was actually rather routine. "We’ve been here for two years. It’s nothing new for what we’re doing," Sgt. Eric Burse, a public information officer with the DPS, told the outlet.

"All of a sudden you get a tweet, and it just blows up."

A spokesperson for John and Trey Harris, two brothers who co-own Colony Ridge, did not respond to a request for comment from the outlet.

'Colony Ridge promised the American dream, but ... in reality, it has delivered a nightmare for thousands of hardworking Hispanic families.'

Though Colony Ridge has been around for more than a decade, the sprawling, 33,000-acre development became the subject of scrutiny just in the last year or so after news about the horrendous conditions there spread across the country. Dubbed "the world's largest trailer park," the area is riddled with ramshackle housing, crumbling roads, and overcrowded schools.

Violent crime and even fetid water have likewise plagued residents there, Blaze News previously reported.

As its name suggests, Colony Ridge is considered by many to be one of Texas' 1,800 colonias, which the state attorney general's office describes as "substandard housing developments ... where residents lack basic services such as drinking water, sewage treatment, and paved roads."

With conditions resembling those in third-world countries, colonias hold little appeal for most Americans. However, they do attract illegal immigrants because they offer an opportunity to own a piece of American land while enjoying many of the rights and privileges of American citizens and other legal residents.

Jason Buttrill, chief researcher for Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck, confirmed anecdotally that many Colony Ridge residents are in the U.S. illegally. For a Blaze Originals documentary entitled "The Real Story of Colony Ridge," Buttrill said he interviewed "dozens of residents" and only of them "was a citizen."

— (@)

Though co-owner John Harris guessed that only about 10% of Colony Ridge residents are illegal aliens, Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader scoffed at such a low estimate. He told Beck that "the majority" of the population at Colony Ridge — some 50,000 or 75,000 total people — are likely illegal aliens.

Even Merrick Garland, the radical attorney general under President Joe Biden, was alarmed by the practices at Colony Ridge. In December 2023, he sued the development for allegedly preying on prospective buyers, many of whom speak little or no English, and luring them with "false statements" about financing.

"Colony Ridge promised the American dream, but we allege that in reality, it has delivered a nightmare for thousands of hardworking Hispanic families who hoped to build their homes in the Terrenos Houston community," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said at the time.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) likewise sued Colony Ridge, which he characterized as a "scheme" and a "foreclosure mill."

"Colony Ridge has been flagrantly violating Texas law. The development profited from targeting consumers with fraudulent claims and predatory lending practices," Paxton said.

A trailer for "The Real Story of Colony Ridge" can be seen below. Click here to view the entire documentary at the BlazeTV channel on YouTube. To have immediate access to this and other such original content, become a BlazeTV subscriber today.

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Illegal alien wanted for murder abroad arrested in Texas: Report



A fugitive murder suspect believed to be living in the U.S. illegally was recently apprehended near Houston, Texas.

Leo Acosta Sanchez, a 21-year-old Mexican national, has apparently been on the radar of local and federal law enforcement for some time. A statement from ICE indicated that she entered the U.S. "as a nonimmigrant" last August and ever since has reportedly been shuttling back and forth between Splendora, Texas, and Terrenos, a controversial land development better known as Colony Ridge, which in recent years has attracted many illegal-immigrant buyers because of its lax lending policies.

'She remains in ICE custody pending disposition of her immigration proceedings.'

Sanchez is also wanted for murder by Interpol, an international law enforcement organization, though where and when the alleged murder took place have not been reported.

On Friday, officers with the City of Splendora Police Department spotted Sanchez "behind the wheel of a vehicle" during "routine traffic patrol," a police press release said. The officers immediately called for backup. Once that backup arrived, they then conducted a traffic stop on the suspect, who was subsequently arrested.

Sanchez was taken into custody "in a joint effort with the Department of Homeland Security" and now faces "charges related to the alleged crimes committed," said the police press release, which likewise described Sanchez as a "dangerous individual."

The statement from Splendora PD did not clarify whether Sanchez is wanted in connection with any crimes committed inside the U.S., but ICE indicated that she has "violated the terms of her admission" since entering the country last year.

"She remains in ICE custody pending disposition of her immigration proceedings," the ICE statement said.

The police press release implied that the suspect is married, referring to her as "Mrs. Sanchez" (emphasis added). Whether she is married and, if so, whether her spouse is an American citizen are both unclear.

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Colony Ridge co-owner pleads guilty to drunk driving
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Colony Ridge co-owner pleads guilty to drunk driving



A notorious land developer in southeastern Texas has pled guilty to drunk driving even as his company faces continued scrutiny from state and federal officials.

On Tuesday, William "Trey" Harris, who co-owns Colony Ridge with brother John Harris, pled guilty to two counts of driving while intoxicated in connection with two separate incidents that occurred within the past seven months.

Harris headed out to turn himself in for the unknown infraction, but along the way, he ran into some of his 'law enforcement buddies,' who then escorted him to jail.

The first incident occurred on November 3, when Harris was arrested for misdemeanor DWI. In this case, he was assessed a class A misdemeanor, the most severe, because his blood alcohol level exceeded .15, or more than twice the legal limit.

Three months later, Harris was arrested and charged with misdemeanor DWI once again. However, this time, he was assessed a class B misdemeanor because his blood alcohol level was likely not as elevated.

After both arrests, Harris quickly paid bail and was released from jail. He was then arrested a third time on May 17, one day after his bail for those DWI cases was revoked. The Houston Landing suggested that the sudden bail revocation may have come because Harris "failed to appear for a court appearance or violated the terms of his release."

His lawyer, Bryan Cantrell, told the outlet that on May 16, Harris headed out to turn himself in for the unknown infraction, but along the way, he ran into some of his "law enforcement buddies," who then escorted him to jail. He has remained in jail ever since.

Harris' plea agreement with prosecutors sentences him to 45 days in jail including time already served. He must also pay a $12,000 fine and avoid driving a car at least until November. County Court at Law Judge Tracy Sorensen has since approved the agreement.

"He just wanted to get this resolved," Cantrell told the Landing.

While Harris' DWI trouble may soon be over, the lingering lawsuits against Colony Ridge aren't going away anytime soon. Located about a half-hour from Houston and dubbed "the world's largest trailer park," residents in and around Colony Ridge have complained about inadequate infrastructure and unsafe living conditions in the development for about a decade, as Blaze News reported earlier this year.

Though local and county officials have done little to address the problems at Colony Ridge, the development now faces lawsuits from the U.S. Department of Justice and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Both lawsuits claim that the Harris brothers and others affiliated with Colony Ridge have engaged in predatory and fraudulent lending practices that have particularly victimized illegal aliens, who comprise at least 50% of the Colony Ridge population, according to some estimates.

Trey Harris' brother, John, spoke with Blaze Media cofounder Glenn Beck in a Blaze Originals documentary about Colony Ridge. To see that and other Blaze Originals episodes, subscribe to BlazeTV here. A trailer to the Colony Ridge episode can be seen below:

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Texas AG Ken Paxton files suit against Colony Ridge for fraudulent practices, but Blaze Media has known the truth for some time



Yesterday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against the massive real estate development northeast of Houston known as Colony Ridge.

According to the suit, Colony Ridge’s owner John Harris has “built a sprawling community northeast of Houston on a foundation of false, misleading, and deceptive sales, marketing, and lending practices.”

“Colony Ridge's business model is predicated on churning land purchasers through a foreclosure mill. Namely, Colony Ridge targets foreign born and Hispanic consumers with limited or no access to credit with promises of cheap, ready to build land and financing without proof of income," the suit claims.

While Paxton’s lawsuit will likely awaken many around the state, and even the nation, about the glaring crisis that is Colony Ridge, Blaze Media has known the truth for some time now.

Earlier this year, Glenn Beck and the Blaze Originals team traveled to Colony Ridge, Texas, and met with Harris as well as some of the residents who call the development home.

What they found will disturb you to your core.

Watch "The Real Story of Colony Ridge," a Blaze Originals documentary, below.


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Texas lawsuit accuses Colony Ridge of 'pernicious business model'



The state of Texas has lodged a lawsuit targeting Colony Ridge for allegedly perpetrating a scheme that involves selling properties while misleading buyers about their condition.

"Colony Ridge, Inc. (CRI), Colony Ridge Development, LLC (CR Development), Colony Ridge BV, LLC (CR Bella Vista), Colony Ridge Land, LLC (CR Land), T-Rex Management, Inc. (T-Rex), (collectively, 'Colony Ridge') and their owner, John Harris, have built a sprawling community northeast of Houston on a foundation of false, misleading, and deceptive sales, marketing, and lending practices," the suit claims.

The suit describes a "pernicious business model" in which a high rate of defaults perpetuates a profitable cycle in which Colony Ridge can scoop properties up only to sell them again.

"Colony Ridge's business model is predicated on churning land purchasers through a foreclosure mill. Namely, Colony Ridge targets foreign born and Hispanic consumers with limited or no access to credit with promises of cheap, ready to build land and financing without proof of income," the suit claims.

"And Colony Ridge lies in a multitude of ways about the conditions that those buyers will experience on the property. Many of those conditions, once discovered, preclude the buyer from actually making any practical use of the land. The result is that the buyer, having discovered that they cannot meaningfully use the land, defaults on the land financing at jaw-dropping rates. Colony Ridge then forecloses on the buyer, re-possesses the land having lost nothing, and then turns around and sells the same land again to another unsuspecting buyer with the same deceptive set of misrepresentations. At best, consumers struggle with unexpected financial burdens for years to avoid foreclosure, to the benefit of Colony Ridge and its pernicious business model," the lawsuit alleges.

"On information and belief, CR Land routinely repurchases the lots in foreclosure and resells them at higher prices. In fact, CR Land often resells a foreclosed lot to the very same consumer at a significantly higher price. The more foreclosures CR Land initiates, the higher likelihood it will acquire residential lots with free improvements which make the foreclosures profitable. Thus, Colony Ridge’s business model incentivizes foreclosures," the suit claims.

It also claims that Colony Ridge requires buyers to join a property owners association but does not utilize those funds to better neighborhoods.

"After Colony Ridge sells property to buyers, it further enriches itself by imposing mandatory membership dues in its affiliated Property Owners Association (POA). Namely, Colony Ridge requires buyers to join a POA and imposes mandatory yearly dues of approximately $120 per member," the Texas suit declares. "However, contrary to how legitimate property owners associations operate, Colony Ridge fails to spend the millions in collected POA dues to improve or benefit consumers’ neighborhoods. Indeed, Defendants do nothing to enhance the welfare of its dues-paying members, some of whom live amongst neglected trash heaps, on empty lots, in ramshackle or improvised dwellings."

According to a press release, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, "Colony Ridge has been flagrantly violating Texas law. The development profited from targeting consumers with fraudulent claims and predatory lending practices."

Last year, when responding to a letter from House Republican lawmakers from the Lone Star State, Paxton wrote of Colony Ridge, "The development appears to be attracting and enabling illegal alien settlement in the state of Texas and distressing neighboring cities and school districts."

The federal government targeted Colony Ridge in a lawsuit lodged last year.

"The Justice Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today sued Colony Ridge, a Texas-based developer and lender, for operating an illegal land sales scheme and targeting tens of thousands of Hispanic borrowers with false statements and predatory loans," a December press release states. "The lawsuit filed in federal district court alleges Colony Ridge sells unsuspecting families flood-prone land without water, sewer, or electrical infrastructure, and that the company sets borrowers up to fail with loans they cannot afford."

In a statement, Harris slammed that suit as "baseless and both outrageous and inflammatory," reports indicate.

The Blaze Originals documentary "The Real Story of Colony Ridge," delves into the topic of Colony Ridge.

Watch 'The Real Story of Colony Ridge,' a Blaze Originals documentary:

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The Real Story of Colony Ridge | Blaze Originals Ep 2
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The Real Story of Colony Ridge | Blaze Originals Ep 2