The Colony Ridge development has long been under scrutiny from conservative lawmakers, think tanks and influencers who cast it as a hotbed for undocumented immigrants and cartel crime.

Colony Ridge, a residential community near Houston that's been accused of being a safe haven for people in the country without legal status, was the focus of a federal immigration enforcement operation on Monday morning, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Gov. Gregg Abbott stated he'd been planning the immigration operation in Colony Ridge for months to target criminals and immigrants. Observers said some people who were stopped were on to their way to work.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and special agents assisted Homeland Security Investigations with an operation in Colony Ridge Monday morning, Gov. Greg Abbott announced on social media. The governor said the initiative aims to apprehend "criminals & illegal immigrants" in the Liberty County housing development.