A new home under construction is shown next to a mobile home in Colony Ridge development Oct. 3, 2023, in Cleveland, TX. CLEVELAND — — Mario Carranza put a mobile home on a $28,000 lot in Colony Ridge, one of the biggest neighborhoods in Texas, lured by cheap land and the chance for his family to escape the crime he says was rampant around their apartment in nearby Houston.
There is no evidence to support the claims, and residents, local officials and the developer dispute the portrayals. The unsubstantiated reports have spread quickly and gained traction among Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president. Spokespersons for Abbott did not immediately return a message seeking comment Wednesday. Abbott previously said “serious concerns” have been raised about Colony Ridge and suggested that lawmakers may look into the matter when they come back for a special session starting Monday.Laws do not prohibit non-U.S. citizens from purchasing homes.
Zayda Cerrato, 43, moved to Colony Ridge from California about six years ago at the urging of an uncle who lived there. She said she was drawn there in part because of the greenery and vegetation that surrounds the development, which has been carved out from the piney woods that blanket East Texas.