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As originally published by the Daily Wire on October 5, 2023.

What’s happening in my backyard is proof: America is being invaded. Unfortunately, those in charge of our nation’s security are the same people hoping illegal immigrants vote for them one day. Clearly, this invasion is being deliberately enabled by the Democratic-controlled White House – purely for political gain. 

Staggeringly, approximately 9 million illegal immigrants have unlawfully – including gotaways and apprehensions – entered the United States under Biden. The majority of those have been released into the interior of our country – and reportedly, many have settled in my Congressional District, in a community called “Colony Ridge” located within the boundaries of Liberty County, Texas. 

Let this serve as my warning to the rest of the nation.

Colony Ridge is a land development spanning tens of thousands of acres just north of Houston, Texas, advertised as a means to own property in America. Just for scale, this rivals the footprint of Washington, D.C., with a population estimated to have already eclipsed 50,000 and growth occurring at an alarming pace. In 2019, I received a briefing from Cleveland Independent School District (ISD), a school system near Colony Ridge. During this meeting, I learned that Cleveland ISD is among the fastest-growing school districts in the state – increasing by 312% since 2011. At the current pace, Colony Ridge could have 150,000 residents by the decade’s end.

Colony Ridge has been an enormous concern since I learned of its existence shortly after taking the oath of office in 2015 – frankly, keeping me awake many nights since. 

Various reports indicate that crime and violence have increased (including a cartel presence), wastewater contamination is flowing into bayous and drainage ditches, inadequate mitigation systems are causing widespread flooding, and an overwhelming burden now rests on existing infrastructure in the area – including schools, emergency services, roads, and more – and this is just a small glimpse into the state of affairs in Colony Ridge. Homes are said to be in various states of disrepair. Regardless of your view on illegal immigration, these residents appear to be living in extremely hazardous conditions.

So, how does a settlement like this come to exist in a place like Southeast Texas? It started with developers enticing desperate foreign populations to the United States with the promise of low-cost no-question property. It worsened when the local community voiced their concerns and were not heard. 

Now, it is abundantly clear to me: We need immediate and swift action from leaders at all levels of the government to address the colonization of America by illegal aliens. Priority number one is to secure our southern border. After that critical task is accomplished, we must ensure that those immigrating to the United States are doing so legally and safely. This is a humanitarian concern that all Americans should be passionate about. But in reality, those on the Left see these illegal immigrants as future voters – and tragically, they prioritize that prospect over the safety of American citizens or even the migrants themselves. The establishment of settlements like Colony Ridge is a direct result of the Obama and Biden administration’s open-border policies, their very intention. 

Working to mitigate and address the various impacts of Colony Ridge has been a top priority of mine in Congress. I’ve consulted with the White House, FBI, DHS, HSI, and ICE – and while I have been assured that the situation is getting better, my constituents calling my office are telling me a different story. Folks, more than eight years later, it has undoubtedly gotten worse – and we must correct course as soon as possible. To that extent, just last weekend, I led the Texas GOP House delegation in a letter to Gov. Abbott and AG Paxton regarding the above reports about Colony Ridge. 

This development in East Texas – more than 300 miles from the southern border – should alarm every American. If this can happen in a red state like Texas, one of the most conservative in the nation, it can happen in any state in the country. Apparently, this is a profitable business model – how long before settlements like Colony Ridge pop up in other states? Our immigration system was meant to benefit Americans and make our country stronger – not endanger us. For the sovereignty and safety of America, I believe Texas and every other state should act decisively to close any loophole enabling the exploitation of our immigration system.