1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: We want to share a good friends podcast with you 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: this week, Enjoy the Truth with Lisa Booth in the 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: Clay and Back podcast Network. 4 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 2: What if I told you that there is a sanctuary 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 2: city on steroids just north of Houston, Texas. It's four 6 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 2: hundred miles from the border, yet there could be up 7 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 2: to seventy five thousand people living there, mostly illegal immigrants 8 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: or potentially all illegal immigrants. That's the target market. It's 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 2: being called a hub for cartel activity. And it's about 10 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: sixty square miles, which is the same size as Washington, DC. 11 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 2: And what if I told you it might be legal 12 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: for this to be happening. We're going to bring you 13 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: the story with Spencer Linquist, who broke this story for 14 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 2: The Daily Wire. We're going to get the scoop, the 15 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: inside story in The Truth. 16 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: Stay tuned. 17 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 2: Spencer, I assume you've been busy this week breaking this 18 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: big story about Colony Ridge. 19 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: Let's start with what is Colony Ridge? 20 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 3: Well, that's right, it certainly has been a busy week. 21 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 3: We've got this Colney Ridge story had just dropped recently 22 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 3: at the start of this week, and it's all about 23 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 3: this massive, this massive land development. It is located about 24 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 3: forty miles northeast of Houston and itself Colney Ridge. It 25 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 3: covers roughly sixty square miles of land. That's larger than Manhattan. 26 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 3: It's about the size of Washington, DC. And what's interesting 27 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 3: about this development is that the way that the financing works, 28 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 3: it's actually made it a bit of a magnet for 29 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 3: illegal immigrants. So right now we're trying to estimate the 30 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 3: population of Colney Ridge, and it's difficult to get an 31 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 3: exact number, but figures say that it's somewhere between the 32 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 3: forty to fifty maybe the seventy five thousand range, and 33 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: it appears to be rapidly growing and preparing to preparing 34 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 3: to accommodate maybe even two hundred thousand people. So very 35 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 3: interesting development, and it seemed to be a pocketable leegal 36 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 3: immigrants right under the nose of the fourth largest city 37 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 3: in the United States. Is that legal, Well, that's the 38 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 3: million dollar question. From what we can tell, a lot 39 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 3: of it is legal. The way that the financing works, 40 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 3: they use the itin. It's the individual taxpayer identification number, 41 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 3: and the IT in. It is legal to use the 42 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 3: it in for financing, and this is a direct buyer 43 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 3: to seller transaction. The interest rates tend to hover in 44 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 3: the twelve thirteen, fourteen percent range, So there's a little 45 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 3: incentive to buy here unless you specifically want to own 46 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: in this area, unless you specifically want to use the 47 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: it in. So it is not technically on a land 48 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 3: developer or on some of you selling property to check 49 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 3: immigration status. But by using that type of financing method, 50 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 3: you are naturally attracting a certain consumer demographic. And perhaps 51 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 3: even more concerning than that, we know that the marketing 52 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 3: materials is actually really difficult. I haven't found any marketing 53 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 3: materials that are in English, and some of their posts 54 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 3: on Instagram even say own land in the United States. 55 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,679 Speaker 3: They encourage people to reach out via WhatsApp, and that's 56 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 3: a platform that is specifically intended for international communications. And 57 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 3: according to their LinkedIn, they actually have a significant number 58 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: of employees who don't even live in the United States, 59 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 3: but who actually live in Latin America. 60 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 2: It seems like they're specifically trying to target those living 61 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: in America legally. 62 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 3: Absolutely, that's what it appears to be the case, that 63 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,519 Speaker 3: they are targeting people who are specifically here illegally. I 64 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 3: spoke with Todd Bensman he's over at these Center for 65 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: Immigration Studies, and he was saying that the reason why 66 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: people would buy in this area and again to contend 67 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 3: with a fourteen or fifteen percent interest rate, is only 68 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 3: if you weren't able to get one of these traditional mortgages. 69 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 3: He said, it's actually the reason why people buy there 70 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 3: is to evade the law. This is a again, it's 71 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 3: absolutely massive. I drove through it, spent a day driving 72 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 3: through it and actually flying around it in a helicopter, 73 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 3: and it is huge. It's six different subdivisions and the 74 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 3: largest one is about thirty four thousand acres. So they're 75 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 3: building their own city. And is one of the foremost 76 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 3: concerns that national security experts that I've spoken to have 77 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: about it is that it's potentially an area that cartels 78 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 3: could be using for safe houses for drug and human 79 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 3: smuggling operations. And again, this is something that is four 80 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 3: hundred miles north of the border and just in the 81 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 3: backyard of America's largest, fourth largest city. 82 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: Do we know if cartels are currently operating from there. 83 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 3: Well, it's difficult to discern that. We know that there 84 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 3: has been cartel activity in Liberty County. There has been 85 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 3: a number of crimes in and around Colony Ridge, which 86 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 3: is again located in Liberty County. There is recently a 87 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 3: sixteen year old girl who was found dead from a 88 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 3: gunshot wound and she was in a ditch inside Colony Ridge. 89 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 3: There is also the remains of a mother of five 90 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 3: were also found in Colony Ridge and she was allegedly 91 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 3: killed by a woman whose husband was said to be 92 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 3: a high ranking cartel member, and she practiced San Tario, 93 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 3: which is this odd folk religion that's really taken root 94 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 3: among a lot of the cartels where they worship the 95 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 3: saint of Death. So we have seen some recent very 96 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 3: disturbing crimes. And we also know that law enforcement has 97 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 3: spoken with Todd Bensman over the Center for Immigration Studies 98 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 3: and told him that the Sinaloa and the Gulf cartels 99 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 3: were early investors in the project. So there are a 100 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 3: lot of national security concerns relating to the cartels, and 101 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 3: it's certainly possible that this is giving them a bit 102 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 3: of a lily pad to be able to smuggle people 103 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 3: and drugs throughout the rest of the United States. 104 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: Who is William Trey Harris, the developer behind it? What 105 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: do we know about him? 106 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 3: William Trey Harris is so he is the developer of 107 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 3: the big developer behind Colony Rage, and he's a very 108 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 3: interesting figure. He's given extensively to various different Republican politicians, 109 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 3: including Governor Greg Abbott. He's given one point four million 110 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 3: dollars to Greg Abbott. His wife, Celeste Harris, also gave 111 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 3: one hundred thousand dollars to Governor Abbit. So we know 112 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 3: that they've donated to the governor, but it goes a 113 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: bit deeper than that as well. They've also given money 114 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 3: to Morgan Latrell, who's a Congressman in the area, as 115 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 3: well as a couple of state representatives, including Representative Ernest 116 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 3: Bails and Representative Briscokine. So we know that he's rather 117 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 3: deeply embedded with with some of the figures in the area, 118 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 3: which of course many people find to be concerning given 119 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 3: what's going on at Colony Ridge. 120 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 2: Have we heard from Governor Abbot or any other Republican 121 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: politicians in Texas about Colony Ridge. 122 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 3: Well, We've reached out to Governor Rabbit's office and he 123 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 3: did say that he has deployed DPS Texas DPS into 124 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 3: the area into Liberty County. He didn't specifically say that 125 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 3: was for Colony Ridge, but he did say that he 126 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 3: had deployed DPS into the area. But we did ask 127 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 3: his campaign whether or not, you know, we asked them 128 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 3: about their donations, and we have not yet heard that 129 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 3: from the campaign on that note. So this is obviously 130 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 3: an ongoing story. So we will certainly be reaching out 131 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 3: to add another other figures for follow up stories as well. 132 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: And I was reading on your article where it's already 133 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 2: more than sixty square miles, which is, for a point 134 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: of reference, bigger than some southern cities like Fayetteville, Arkansas, 135 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: or Asheville, North Carolina. 136 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 3: That's right, it's absolutely massive, and it's also growing right now. 137 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 3: We saw that when we flew around in the helicopter. 138 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 3: We were kind of on the outskirts of it, and 139 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 3: at various different parts our footage captured, there's area, there's 140 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 3: land being clearcut, there's earthwork and construction vehicles that are 141 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 3: there on the outskirts, so they are making way. They're 142 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 3: making way for new land for new homes, and really 143 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 3: it is surrounded by floodplain and forest, so it's not 144 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 3: really like they have any cities that they're going to 145 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 3: butt up against you if they want to develop there, 146 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: and of course if this is being driven by illegal immigration. 147 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 3: We know that right now the numbers are nearing record 148 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 3: highs and there would be plenty of demand currently. 149 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: Do we know if they're already at efforts within the 150 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: state to try to stop this, to try to shut 151 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 2: it down. 152 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 3: Well, we spoke with Representative Brian Babin. He represents the 153 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 3: district that includes Colony Ridge, and he is very concerned 154 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 3: about what's going on. He said that action needs to 155 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 3: be taken, that he will pursue whatever federal avenues he 156 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 3: can for action. And we also spoke with a Representative 157 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 3: Chip Roy. He is actively looking into the development, I 158 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 3: believe recently has read some reports on it and is 159 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 3: looking into what can be done. Just the other day, 160 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 3: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick he also said that he's going 161 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 3: to be pushing Governor Abbott to address Colony Ridge in 162 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 3: a special session for the legislature. So there are several 163 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 3: people who do seem to want to take action on 164 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 3: Colony and are very concerned with potential cartel activity and 165 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 3: for its potential for facilitating mass illegal immigration. 166 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: Do we know what can be done? 167 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 3: Well, that's interesting, So there's a number of things right now. 168 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 3: I mean, I spoke with Bensman from the Center for 169 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 3: Immigration Studies, and he said that the first thing to 170 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: do is that we need public awareness of it. This 171 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 3: is something that despite its massive size and scale and 172 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 3: its large population, a lot of the American people haven't 173 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 3: been aware of, even though this has been ongoing for 174 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 3: a number of years. So the first step really is 175 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 3: that public awareness. Then Bensman was calling on Congress to 176 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 3: launch an investigation into Colony Ridge. So I think the 177 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 3: first step, of course is this awareness, and then lawmakers 178 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 3: are taking note, and of course they may be pursuing 179 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 3: certain avenues. 180 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 2: Do we know if there are any other places around 181 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: the country that look like Colony Ridge? Is this being 182 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: replicated anywhere or did they copy someone else or another state? 183 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 3: As far as we know, this is the largest development 184 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 3: of its type, But this is a question that that 185 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 3: is ongoing. Of course, because of the nature of these developments, 186 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 3: it is hard to ascertain exactly how many there are, 187 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 3: whether or not this business model has been replicated elsewhere. 188 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 3: Brian Babin, the representative representative Babin from Texas, he did 189 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 3: note that that is a concern of his that this 190 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 3: is a profitable economic niche and for that reason, it 191 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 3: could be replicated in other areas in Texas and potentially 192 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 3: other places throughout the country. 193 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. 194 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 2: I mean there's already enough incentives like an open border 195 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 2: to come to the United States. 196 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: You know, we don't need any more. 197 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 2: Spencer, is there anything we've missed in this conversation that 198 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: you'd like the audience to know that's important. 199 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 3: I think something that's really important to note about Colony 200 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 3: Ridge is that it's this very interesting story that I 201 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 3: think has taken a lot of people by surprise. It 202 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 3: is rapidly growing, It's getting larger, and right now I 203 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 3: think we're hitting a point where various different politicians are 204 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,719 Speaker 3: becoming aware of Colony Ridge, and I think it'll be 205 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 3: very interesting to watch how representatives, how leaders approach this 206 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 3: subject moving forwards. 207 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: I do too, And you did this report for the 208 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 2: Daily Wire. Where can people go and find your work? 209 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 3: You can find my work on the Daily Wire website 210 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 3: as well as on Twitter. My name is Spencer Lindquist, 211 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 3: and we're looking forward to continuing to report on Calling Ridge. 212 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 2: Spencer, great job, I really appreciate you bringing the story 213 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 2: to my audience. 214 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 3: Great Thank you. Very much for having me. 215 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 2: That was Spencer Linquist with the Daily Wire. Appreciate him 216 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 2: bringing that report to the show. Appreciate you guys at 217 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 2: home for listening every Monday Thursday, but you can listen 218 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 2: throughout the week. Want to think John Castio for putting 219 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 2: the show together. Until next time.