Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) publicly criticized Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on social media Wednesday morning, linking him to a donor connected to a large housing development near Houston that Texas officials have called a haven for illegal immigrants.
The comments came after Cruz endorsed state Rep. Steve Toth, who defeated Crenshaw in the Republican primary for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District in early March.
Crenshaw posted on Instagram a photo of Cruz on a plane. He wrote that Cruz had backed efforts that defunded Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
He added a reference to Cruz’s 2021 trip to Cancun during a winter storm that left many in Houston without power and water.
“Always nice to be in the ultra wealthy River Oaks class and still manage to convince a few gullible voters that you’re ‘fighting for them,'” Crenshaw wrote.
He continued: “Not surprising he didn’t fund ICE, because one of his mega donors, Robert Marling, is the banker behind Colony Ridge, an alleged illegal alien safe haven. Follow the money.”
Primary Loss and Donor Funding
Toth won the primary against Crenshaw after a campaign that included heavy advertising funded in large part by Texas banker Robert Marling.
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Reports indicated Marling donated nearly $700,000 to support Toth.
Marling serves as a leader at Woodforest National Bank, which provided a $20 million loan to Colony Ridge in 2023, according to Crenshaw’s earlier statements.
Marling has donated to Cruz since 2011 and backed his 2016 presidential campaign.
Cruz’s endorsement of Toth appeared in ads paid for with Marling’s contributions in the final weeks of the race.
Colony Ridge Settlement
In February 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a $68 million settlement with Colony Ridge developers.
Paxton said the development had created “a de facto illegal immigrant community” and endangered American citizens by allowing illegal immigrants to operate in its streets, schools, and community.
The settlement, reached with the U.S. Department of Justice, required the developers to pay penalties and change their practices.
It included requirements for buyers to show a Texas ID or driver’s license, which undocumented immigrants cannot obtain in the state. The agreement halted further development of the community as described by state officials.
Paxton stated at the time: “Under my watch, Texas will never be a sanctuary for illegals. Colony Ridge endangered American citizens by allowing illegal aliens to run rampant on its streets, in its schools, and in its community.”
Colony Ridge is a large subdivision project about 30 to 35 miles outside Houston in Liberty and Montgomery counties.
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Conservative leaders and media had highlighted it for years as attracting undocumented immigrants through targeted land sales and financing.
Why This Matters
The public clash between Crenshaw and Cruz shows divisions within the Texas Republican Party over immigration policy and donor influence.
Crenshaw lost his seat after Toth, backed by Marling’s funding, framed the race around stricter conservative positions.
The Colony Ridge case shows how large-scale land developments can become flashpoints in debates over border security and illegal immigration.
The $68 million settlement and new buyer requirements aim to address state concerns that such projects can function as safe havens.
