Texas Central Railway has purchased several homes in Harris County that have become inhabited by squatters, raising safety concerns from residents.
According to a report from KPRC 2, Texas Central Railway has purchased 41 homes in the White Oak Falls subdivision in northwest Harris County.
TCR planned to relocate the homes to clear the way for its slow-moving high-speed train project connecting Houston and Dallas.
However, residents say some homes are in poor condition, and squatters have moved in, even without electricity.
“I don’t feel safe for my family, for my grandkids, not even for myself,” Maria Arzola, a 17-year resident of White Oak Falls, told the news outlet. “It’s not fair for me. I pay my fees and I pay my taxes.”
KPRC 2 Investigates also reported that during a visit to the subdivision, they saw a “dilapidated home with the words ‘SEX HOUSE’ scrawled on the front door with spray paint.”
In a statement to the outlet, TCR said, “We are aware of issues involving Texas Central-owned properties in the White Oak Falls neighborhood in Harris County. We have started and completed evictions on several properties. Texas Central is working diligently with local authorities to address these issues.”
Additionally, attorneys for the Homeowners’ Association for White Oak Falls and the Texas Central Railroad are reportedly in contact.
KPRC 2 Investigates spoke to Harris County Precinct 2 Constable Jerry Garcia about the problem of squatters, and he explained that the term is often “misapplied.”
However, he also told the outlet, “These aren’t the kind of people you want living next to you. They tend to be lawbreakers, drug users, and sometimes even more dangerous individuals.”
In a March post on X, Governor Greg Abbott addressed the growing problem of squatters. He stated that Texans had the right to protect their property.
“In Texas, anyone ‘squatting’ in your home is breaking the law. They are criminals violating TX laws like criminal trespass & criminal mischief (Tex. Penal Code 30.05 & 28.03),” Abbott said.
He added, “Also, the Texas Castle Doctrine empowers Texans to use force to defend themselves & their property.”
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