Texas Neighborhood Faces Right-Wing Backlash Over Immigration, Locals Fight Back

Colony Ridge, a neighborhood in Texas, has become the target of unsubstantiated claims by conservative media and GOP activists, alleging that it has become a magnet for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and that cartels control pockets of the neighborhood. However, there is no evidence to support these claims, and residents, local officials, and the developer dispute the portrayals. The attention has thrust Liberty County, a Republican stronghold, into the center of immigration politics, with Republicans using the issue as a focal point for next year's elections. The developer, who has donated to Gov. Greg Abbott's campaigns, has invited lawmakers to see the neighborhood for themselves.