Texas Gov. Abbott wages immigration operation in community targeted by conservatives
The operation was focused on Colony Ridge, a group of unincorporated subdivisions northeast of Houston that has been targeted by GOP media and right-wing activists who have pushed unsubstantiated claims that the overwhelmingly Republican area has become a magnet for immigrants and that it is under the control of cartels.
'Colony Ridge is being targeted today,' Abbott said in a post on X. He said Texas' Department of Public Safety and special agents assisted Homeland Security Investigations in the housing development.
'They are targeting criminals & illegal immigrants. I have worked with Tom Homan on this for months,' Abbott said in his post, referring to President Donald Trump's border czar.
NBC News' request to Texas DPS for information on how many people were detained or arrested and whether the apprehensions were immigration related was referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Members of FIEL Houston, an immigrant-led civil rights group, posted live video on Facebook of members driving around the streets of Colony Ridge and warning people not to open their doors and to stay silent if detained.
Along with Texas DPS and unmarked vehicles, the FIEL members said Liberty County sheriff's cars were also in the area.
'¡No firme nada! Don't sign anything! No hables! (Don't talk!),' one of the FIEL members yelled out the window in English and Spanish while passing a Liberty County constable car, a DPS SUV, three law enforcement personnel, a pickup truck and a man who was standing next to a white van with ladders attached to its roof, all pulled over on a roadway.
Alain Cisneros, a spokesman for FIEL Houston, told NBC News that streets had been blocked in the morning and that there were many DPS vehicles and personnel in the city, pulling people over.
'They are pulling over people left and right,' one of the FIEL Houston members said during the live Facebook broadcast. 'If you don't have a license, we don't recommend you driving right now.'
Cisneros said the officers had pulled over some trucks with workers heading to their jobs, many in construction.
He said FIEL members in Cleveland, Texas, had not seen any children picked up but that the local school had been blocked off.
At one point, as the FIEL Houston members were driving, one advised the other to remain calm if they were stopped.
In 2023, right-wing media and conservatives tagged Colony Ridge as a "no-go" zone for law enforcement, a haven for people illegally in the U.S. and a hub for cartel activity.
Law enforcement agencies disagreed with the narrative pushed by conservative media. Little legislative action resulted after Abbott made the claims part of the brief agenda of a special legislative session.
Abbott has been waging his own multibillion immigration enforcement operation, Operation Lone Star, for years and using Texas DPS troopers to enforce state laws against trespassing and illegal entry. He has been seeking reimbursement from the federal government for $11 billion that the state has spent on the operation.
The Justice Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under then-President Joe Biden filed a lawsuit against the subdivision's developer alleging that he had targeted Hispanics with predatory loans, false advertising and subpar housing as part of an illegal land scheme.
The developer denied the allegations and said it had made loans to people who could not get loans elsewhere.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
21 minutes ago
- CNN
‘We've had enough': Texas Democrat who slept on state House floor speaks out
Rep. Nicole Collier (D-TX) spent the night on the Texas House floor in protest after refusing a Republican demand to be placed under the watch of the state Department of Public Safety. CNN's Arlette Saenz reports.
The Hill
23 minutes ago
- The Hill
Here are the states sending National Guard troops to DC
Three more states with GOP governors are sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., as part of President Trump's crime crackdown in the nation's capital. Trump declared a public safety emergency in the city next week, federalizing the local police force and bringing in the National Guard. About 1,100 members of National Guard units from six different states have been announced so far, with many governors noting that the federal government is paying for their assistance and that reinforcements were requested by the Trump administration. They are expected all be in the District of Columbia in the coming days. They add to the 800 D.C. National Guard troops Trump deployed last week, as well as a host of federal agencies that have been sent in to beef up law enforcement efforts. Here's a look at which states have National Guard troops in D.C. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has approved sending about 135 members of the Louisiana National Guard to the District of Columbia. 'Our capital is a reflection of our nation's respect, beauty, and standards,' the Republican wrote in a social media post on Monday. 'We cannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence and lawlessness.' 'I am proud to support this mission to return safety and sanity to Washington DC and cities all across our country, including right here in Louisiana,' he added. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday afternoon that he would send 200 soldiers from the Mississippi National Guard to D.C. 'Crime is out of control there, and it's clear something must be done to combat it,' Reeves, another GOP governor, wrote in a post on the social platform X about the decision. 'Americans deserve a safe capital city that we can all be proud of. I know the brave men and women of our National Guard will do an excellent job enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement.' Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) is sending about 160 Tennessee National Guard personnel to the nation's capital this week. Press secretary Elizabeth Lane Johnson told The Hill that the Tennessee Guard members will 'work alongside local and federal law enforcement agencies to assist with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities and traffic control.' She said the members will stay as long as needed. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) announced Saturday night that his state's National Guard would supply 'mission-essential equipment, specialized training and approximately 300-400 skilled personnel' to aid officers in the District. 'This initiative aligns with our values of service and dedication to our communities,' Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, West Virginia's adjutant general, said in a statement through the governor's office. 'We stand ready to support our partners in the National Capital Region and contribute to the collective effort of making our nation's capital a clean and safe environment.' 'The National Guard's unique capabilities and preparedness make it an invaluable partner in this important undertaking,' he added. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) authorized the deployment of about 200 South Carolina Guardsmen to the nation's capital over the weekend and noted in his announcement that the federal government will cover the costs. The news came as Hurricane Erin churned in the Atlantic, with warnings going out along the East Coast. The powerful storm is not expected to make landfall on the U.S. mainland, but forecasters have warned that Erin could cause coastal flooding, rip currents and strong winds. 'Our National Guard will work to assist President Trump's mission, and should a hurricane or natural disaster threaten our state, they can and will be immediately recalled home to respond,' McMaster said. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Saturday that he would send about 150 military police from the Ohio National Guard, noting that the state received the request from Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's office. 'These Ohio National Guard members will carry out presence patrols and serve as added security,' DeWine said in a statement. 'None of these military police members are currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state of Ohio.'
Axios
23 minutes ago
- Axios
Key energy agency goes back to the future
File under wonky-but-important: The International Energy Agency's next flagship, long-term outlook will include a more conservative model of the transition from fossil fuels. Why it matters: IEA's studies inform policymakers, energy company boardrooms, investors and researchers worldwide. But GOP critics and some analysts say IEA has adopted an overly rosy, advocacy-tinted view of the energy transition. What we're watching: Whether the report this fall, and reaction to it, helps ease growing U.S. pressure on the multinational body. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has threatened a U.S. withdrawal from IEA, and some Capitol Republicans are seeking to end U.S. funding. Driving the news: The agency's World Energy Outlook — the annual look-ahead to mid-century — will have a "current policies scenario" for the first time since 2019, IEA quietly announced in a wider March calendar notice about it. WEOs always have several scenarios, but in recent years the most cautious has rested on "stated policies" — including those "under development" — rather than just present ones. What's next: The 2025 edition will have a "wide spectrum of possible outcomes that today's markets and policies imply," IEA said. "These will include exploratory scenarios that flow from different assumptions about existing policies, including the Current Policies Scenario, as well as normative pathways that achieve energy and emissions goals in full." Between the lines: One friction point is IEA's view that oil demand will stop growing this decade, which Wright in June called "nonsensical." Yes, but: While IEA's take on oil consumption collides with some look-aheads, executive director Fatih Birol points out that its view is well within the analytical mainstream. Our thought bubble: Some of the drama is about vibes.
