Morning Wire — "The Fall of Colony Ridge: How a Texas Mega-Development Got Brought to Heel"

Date: February 16, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Special Guest: Brent Scher (Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief)
Feature Segment: Original reporting by Spencer Lindquist (September 2023)

Episode Overview

This special edition of Morning Wire revisits the years-long saga surrounding Colony Ridge, a massive and controversial Texas development accused of serving as an enclave for illegal immigrants. The episode explores the culmination of investigations and lawsuits, resulting in a landmark $68 million settlement with the Trump administration. The discussion unpacks the origins of the controversy, the settlement’s details, its community impacts, the roles of politicians, and the future for Texas residents in the affected area.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Background: Why Colony Ridge Sparked National Attention

• Scale of the Project: Once touted as the fastest-growing development in the US, with plans for over 200,000 residents—bigger by area than Washington, D.C. ([03:16]-[03:45]).
• Targeted Marketing: Developers aimed their marketing, especially in Spanish, at foreign populations and illegal immigrants, advertising land sales with unconventional bank loans that didn’t require Social Security numbers ([03:45]-[04:12]).
  • Quote (Brent Scher):
    “The strategy was pretty obvious and it worked. Illegal immigrants just poured in in Texas.” ([04:12])

The Legal Fallout and Settlement Details

• Litigation & Enforcement:
  • Intense scrutiny followed Daily Wire’s reporting, later catalyzing further coverage (Blaze, Washington Post, New York Times).
  • The site became notorious for high-interest, owner-financed land sales to individuals without citizenship or traditional documentation ([04:22]-[05:21]).
  • The Biden administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued for a “bait and switch” scheme exploiting Hispanic/immigrant buyers ([05:21]).
  • Trump administration settled the lawsuit with the Texas Attorney General ([05:23]-[06:13]).
• Settlement Breakdown ([06:13]-[08:04]):
  • $68 million total
    • $20 million: Establishing a dedicated police presence and station within Colony Ridge (with enforcement focused on deporting illegal immigrants found committing crimes).
    • $50 million: Infrastructure improvements, addressing uninhabitable lot conditions, flooding, and neglected roads/utilities.
  • Tighter Lending Requirements:
    • Only traditional loans permitted.
    • Buyers must have a Texas-issued ID (unavailable to illegal immigrants) or a post-2025 legal visa ([07:58]).
  • Enforcement Framing:
    • Harmeet Dhillon (DOJ negotiator) frames the deal as about public safety and affordable, legal home ownership.
    • Ken Paxton (Texas AG) lauds the end of a “de facto illegal immigrant community” ([08:04]-[08:47]).

Notable Quotes

• Brent Scher:
  • “The business model that Daily Wire helped to uncover was that its marketing strategy was completely aimed exclusively at illegal immigrants or at least foreign populations. It was all in Spanish.” ([03:45]-[04:12])
  • “They are now spending $50 million to fix that ... now to buy in Texas, you can’t get an unconventional loan ... you have to have a Texas-issued ID or a legal visa issued since Donald Trump took office.” ([07:58])
• Harmeet Dhillon (via Brent Scher paraphrase):
  • “The changes required by this settlement will promote public safety and affordable and sustainable home ownership in America.” ([08:04])
• Ken Paxton:
  • Hailed the deal saying it “halts the development of a de facto illegal immigrant community in Texas.” ([08:04])

Deep Dive: Revisiting the Original Reporting (Spencer Lindquist, September 2023)

Segment Start: [09:07]

On the Ground: What Colony Ridge Looked Like

• Size & Conditions:
  • Almost 60 square miles; population between 30,000 to 75,000+ ([09:20]-[10:17]).
  • Many lots unfinished or makeshift, some with tents, minimal infrastructure, no zoning laws—likened to third-world shantytowns ([09:20]-[10:13]).
  • Flyover revealed rapid, ongoing expansion ([10:48]-[10:55]).
• Demographic Indicators:
  • Owner-financed loans, social media in Spanish, and explicit appeals to non-citizens.
  • Interest rates around 13–15% ([11:03]-[11:21]).
  • No requirement for Social Security numbers, drawing those unable to access conventional mortgages ([11:21]-[11:59]).
  • Residents told investigators ICE/local police absent or inactive ([11:59]-[12:06]).

Quote:

• Todd Bensman (Center for Immigration Studies)
  "When people are buying in this area, they're buying peace of mind from law enforcement." ([11:59])

Law Enforcement & Criminal Activity

• County sheriff doesn’t routinely check immigration status; investigations focus on violent crimes ([12:12]).
• Cartel Presence: Both Sinaloa and Gulf cartels alleged to have invested early in the project ([12:12]).
• Residents fearful to report crimes; several high-profile murders linked to cartel involvement ([12:12]-[13:36]).
  • Example: 16-year-old girl found dead in a ditch; another: murder by an illegal immigrant previously deported four times ([13:18]-[13:36]).
• Surrounding communities, especially Plum Grove (pop. ~1,000), overwhelmed by strain on local infrastructure and public schools ([21:01]).

Quotes:

• Resident (anonymous):
  "So yesterday I heard the shooting, but I thought it was like a normal day." ([13:22])

Political Connections and Inaction

• Developer William Trey Harris III, major GOP donor:
  • Over $1.4 million given to Governor Greg Abbott’s campaign, plus donations to US Rep. Morgan Luttrell and others, who acknowledged learning about the issues only recently ([14:28]-[15:54]).
  • State Rep. Ernest Bales received donations via entities or law firms tied to Harris ([15:54]-[17:23]).
  • Large donations spark perception of “inaction” from officials but direct legal wrongdoing not established ([15:54]-[17:23]).
• Exception:
  • US Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36), no donations, outspoken critic:
    _"It was very concerning to fly over it ... it looks like they've pretty much doubled in size." ([17:52]-[18:09])
    • Recalls a 2013 raid on a “cartel compound” in the area ([18:09]-[18:38]).

Legality and Replication

• In Liberty County, nothing illegal about selling land to non-citizens; predatory terms, but contracts are entered “freely” ([18:38]-[19:23]).
• Similar developments suspected elsewhere, raising concerns about non-assimilation and cartel expansion ([19:32]-[20:26]).

Quotes:

• J. Michael Waller (Center for Security Policy):
  "You’re seeding the entire country with these different population centers ... they have no idea of the American founding, ... what's the American way of life all about." ([20:08]-[20:26])
  "So this is going to be a cartel land near Houston and at risk of being a no go zone because they're not Americans ... it's going to change the entire United States of America. And it already has been." ([20:30])

Impact on Area Communities

• Sewer overflows, flooding, and public health strains.
• Rapid population surge forced local school districts to float hundreds of millions in bonds to accommodate new students, especially non-English speakers ([21:01]-[21:45]).
• Bilingual teacher stipends introduced; strain disrupting traditional community fabric.

Lack of Immediate Legislative Response

• Lawmakers urged to prioritize public awareness, then formal hearings and scrutiny ([21:45]-[21:56]).

Quote:

• Todd Bensman:
  “The best way to create public knowledge is for the House Republicans to hold a hearing on this ... and put this on the map in a public hearing.” ([21:56])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:06] – Interview with Brent Scher (background and settlement details)
• [06:13] – Breakdown of settlement funding and future regulations
• [09:07] – Replay of Spencer Lindquist’s 2023 investigative segment
• [10:13]-[12:06] – Conditions in Colony Ridge and law enforcement situation
• [13:18]-[13:36] – Noteworthy violent crime cases
• [14:28]-[17:23] – Political donations, elected officials, and accountability
• [17:52]-[18:38] – Rep. Brian Babin on scale and cartel involvement
• [21:01]-[21:45] – Impact on neighboring town and schools

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "The strategy was pretty obvious and it worked. Illegal immigrants just poured in in Texas."
  — Brent Scher ([04:12])
• "When people are buying in this area, they're buying peace of mind from law enforcement."
  — Todd Bensman ([11:59])
• "It was very concerning to fly over it ... pretty much doubled in size."
  — Rep. Brian Babin ([17:52]-[18:09])
• "You're seeding the entire country with these different population centers. They have no idea of the American founding..."
  — J. Michael Waller ([20:08])

Conclusion

The Morning Wire episode delivers an in-depth look at the Colony Ridge controversy, highlighting investigative journalism’s impact on public policy. Years after the initial spotlight, a major federal-state settlement redefines who can buy into Colony Ridge and invests millions in policing and infrastructure, aiming to reverse years of unchecked growth and criminal activity. Through reporting, first-hand accounts, and analysis, the episode underscores persistent problems of illegal immigration, predatory lending, political donations, and the ripple effects on local communities—all unfolding in one of America’s largest and most politically fraught real estate developments.