Colony Ridge Gave Greg Abbott $1.5 Million. Here’s What Greg Abbott Gave Colony Ridge.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Colony Ridge Gave Greg Abbott $1.5 Million. Here’s What Greg Abbott Gave Colony Ridge.
Records obtained by The Daily Wire show Texas governor played central role in securing massive tax benefits for the illegal immigrant enclave.
By  Spencer Lindquist
Apr 21, 2025   DailyWire.com

When the Trump administration’s deportation raids began in Texas, the epicenter was Colony Ridge.

In the first wave of raids alone, more than 100 illegals — including murder suspects, drug lords, sexual predators, and a confirmed cartel member — were nabbed by authorities in the infamous housing development, which ballooned as illegal immigrants flooded the state. The “fastest growing” development in the country markets cheap land to foreigners, and illegal immigrants took the bait: in an area where there was next to nothing less than a decade ago, there are now as many as 100,000 residents and more than 35,000 properties. Through its aggressive marketing of cheap land in the United States, it was projected to grow to a quarter of a million people.

But the rapid growth of an illegal immigrant haven was not thanks to the marketing strategy alone: A Daily Wire investigation found that in 2018, Colony Ridge’s growth was supercharged by an Opportunity Zone designation awarded by the federal government following a direct plea from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The Opportunity Zone program aims to spur development of low-income areas by offering investors significant tax breaks, including the deferral of capital gains taxes.

Though Abbott has attempted to distance himself from Colony Ridge after its practices were exposed — his office was an active partner in the federal deportation raids — The Daily Wire found that the governor helped lay the economic groundwork that made the development’s explosive growth possible, and that developers donated to and built a relationship with Abbott as they worked to build Colony Ridge up to its current 34,000-acre footprint.

This report is based on pages of previously unreleased communications, meeting logs, and other internal documents obtained by The Daily Wire through public records requests. It reveals that Abbott petitioned the federal government to secure the major tax incentive for Colony Ridge as the development’s backers made donations to his campaign, and paid multiple visits to the governor’s mansion.

Abbott’s Relationship with Colony Ridge
At least on paper, the relationship between Abbott and Trey Harris, the lead developer of Colony Ridge, began in 2018. On March 19 of that year, Celeste Harris, the developer’s wife, donated $100,000 to Abbott, according to state campaign finance records. That donation came just two days before the original deadline for states to nominate census tracts for opportunity zone status.

Then on March 21, the day of the deadline, Abbott wrote a letter to the Treasury Department nominating the area surrounding Colony Ridge to be designated a federal Opportunity Zone, according to records obtained by The Daily Wire, which asked Texas to produce all correspondence regarding the designation of the Colony Ridge development as an opportunity zone
https://www.dailywire.com/news/colony-ridge-gave-greg-abbott-1-5-million-heres-what-greg-abbott-gave-colony-ridge

[catfish1957]

In '18, no one had any idea of what this Colony Ridge business was about.  Can give Abbott the benefit of the doubt, but for good optics, he needs to have his campaign coffers cut a rebate check back, with an explanation.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

In '18, no one had any idea of what this Colony Ridge business was about.  Can give Abbott the benefit of the doubt, but for good optics, he needs to have his campaign coffers cut a rebate check back, with an explanation.

In 2015, local communities were concerned enough to call a county commissioners meeting and complained there was limited planning for infrastructure, drainage, etc.  It was also revealed that the small tracts had targeted the Hispanic community and that the sale of the tracts did not require social security numbers either, so it was a natural gravitation for illegals to congregate, with associated cartel activity.

Years before Texas conservatives painted them as criminals, Colony Ridge residents sought help from state agencies
When the fast-growing Colony Ridge development outside Houston became a fixation of right-wing media last year, Texas’ Republican leaders called for swift action.

The 33,000-acre development had been painted by conservative influencers, outlets and think tanks as a destination for thousands of immigrants in the country illegally and a hub for drug cartel activity. Gov. Greg Abbott publicly worried it was a “no-go zone” and directed legislators to craft new laws about “public safety, security, environmental quality, and property ownership in areas like the Colony Ridge development.”

Records obtained by Houston Landing and The Texas Tribune, however, show at least three state agencies were warned about other potential problems with the development years earlier. Residents sent state agencies more than five dozen complaints about Colony Ridge and its marketing arm, Terrenos Houston, from 2016 to 2023.

Yet, the state has few, if any, results to show.
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/texas-conservatives-immigrants-federal-lawsuit-colony-ridge/
That is the environment which politician Abbott was witnessing when he promoted this development with the power of his office in 2018.

[MajorClay]

Hmmmmmm

[Bigun]

In 2015, local communities were concerned enough to call a county commissioners meeting and complained there was limited planning for infrastructure, drainage, etc.  It was also revealed that the small tracts had targeted the Hispanic community and that the sale of the tracts did not require social security numbers either, so it was a natural gravitation for illegals to congregate, with associated cartel activity.

Years before Texas conservatives painted them as criminals, Colony Ridge residents sought help from state agencies
When the fast-growing Colony Ridge development outside Houston became a fixation of right-wing media last year, Texas’ Republican leaders called for swift action.

The 33,000-acre development had been painted by conservative influencers, outlets and think tanks as a destination for thousands of immigrants in the country illegally and a hub for drug cartel activity. Gov. Greg Abbott publicly worried it was a “no-go zone” and directed legislators to craft new laws about “public safety, security, environmental quality, and property ownership in areas like the Colony Ridge development.”

Records obtained by Houston Landing and The Texas Tribune, however, show at least three state agencies were warned about other potential problems with the development years earlier. Residents sent state agencies more than five dozen complaints about Colony Ridge and its marketing arm, Terrenos Houston, from 2016 to 2023.

Yet, the state has few, if any, results to show.
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/texas-conservatives-immigrants-federal-lawsuit-colony-ridge/
That is the environment which politician Abbott was witnessing when he promoted this development with the power of his office in 2018.

I am personally acquainted with the Harris clan and can tell you with certainty that making fortunes in real estate ventures runs in the family. Henry, Trey and John's father, made his in Arkansas. Need I go further?

[rustynail]

I am personally acquainted with the Harris clan and can tell you with certainty that making fortunes in real estate ventures runs in the family. Henry, Trey and John's father, made his in Arkansas. Need I go further?

Whitewater Development Corporation?

[Bigun]

Whitewater Development Corporation?