GOP State Rep. Candidate Lee Reeves Houses Hundreds Of Illegal Immigrants, Blames Government
Image Credit: voteleereeves.com & Las Velas at Hillcroft / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Information has surfaced that Lee Reeves, one of the Republican candidates vying for the open seat in Williamson County’s District 65, is the owner and operator of a business called Triumph Equity Management in Reeves’ former city of Houston, Texas.
Based on exclusive information shared with The Tennessee Conservative, an apartment complex owned by Reeves’ company has been discovered to house illegal immigrants.
According to franchise tax records, Triumph Equity Management, the sole owner of which appears to be Reeves, owns a 142-unit apartment complex located at 7111 Hillcroft Ave, Houston TX.
Reeves admitted to his ownership in an interview with Micheal Patrick Leahy last month, when he was explained what it is he does for a living, in addition to other aspects of his background.
In the statements given to Leahy, Reeves does indicate that he has “investors” in the property, but there is no inference that those “investors” rank as co-owners or have decision making power with regard to company policies for tenant applications.
This building, based on the information sent to The Tennessee Conservative, has illegal immigrants renting units at about an 80% occupancy rate.
Reeves, who launched his campaign in the Republican primary against competitors Brian Beathard and Michelle Foreman earlier this spring, has stated that his central policy goals for his term should he be elected, are to de magnetize the state of Tennessee against illegal immigration.
At the candidate forum last month, Reeves was asked the question, “If you could be known for one signature piece of legislation, what would it be?”
Reeves answered the question, “It’s a great question, I’ll tell you what my first piece of legislation would be, and it would be to demagnetize our state to illegal border crossers by creating a new criminal statute.. to make entry into the state by somebody here illegally first a misdemeanor and upon additional violations, a felony.”
He added, “I think it’s important, Oklahoma just passed a similar law, Texas just passed a similar law, and I think we can do that here and become the last place somebody who crosses that border illegally wants to go.”
Reeves has made similar statements in other public appearances including the interview with Leahy linked above.
In an audio clip sent to The Tennessee Conservative News, courtesy of The Lion of Judah, a Christian opposition research firm, an unnamed person contacted the Las Velas at Hillcroft Apartments and asked if the complex would rent a unit to a person who does not have legal status or “undocumented” persons, and the leasing agent goes on to explain that they will take “Any type of identification that they have from their country would be enough. Some places it does have to be current.”
The individual then asks for clarification, to be certain there are already other illegal immigrants living there, because they want to be “comfortable” with the surroundings.
The leasing agent responds, “Yes, so here in this area on Southwest, on Hillcroft and Bellaire, I would say about 80 or maybe more than 80 now, percent of people are coming fresh from their country.”
Later in the conversation when the subject of identification comes up again, the leasing agent explains, “So, we do have a lot of people that use their identification from their country. The majority of our residents do not have Social Security or IT numbers. So that would not be an issue. It’s just, the IT number and the Social Security for us is just to do the credit check to lower deposits.”
In other words, the only reason they would be in need of those two pieces of information is not to confirm status, but to determine credit eligibility.
The leasing agent then lets the individual know, all that is really needed is ID from their country of origin and if their employer can pay them with a check for proof of income.
The Tennessee Conservative reached out to Reeves for a response and he had this to say:
“Sadly, opposition groups have now resorted to deceptive tactics in response to the tremendous momentum of our campaign.
Here are the facts: I’m one of twenty-two investors in a business that strictly follows all federal and state laws and regulations. Unfortunately, federal fair housing laws create legal liability for property owners who attempt to verify immigration status. This situation further highlights why we must use every resource we can to discourage illegal immigration, including protecting and not punishing business owners who seek to be part of the solution.
I’m the only candidate in this race who, like President Trump, has made immigration a top priority and who has offered a specific plan to demagnetize Tennessee to illegal immigrants. I understand these issues better than both of my opponents, which is why I’m the only candidate discussing illegal immigration in detail. I’m ready to be a leading voice in this fight on Day One as State Representative.”
In reviewing the reference Reeves makes to federal law and why he is compelled to rent to those who do not have legal status, TTC discovered that Texas law allows all landlords to require full background and credit checks for all of their residents which requires Social Security or ITIN numbers from residents. This requirement simply needs to be supplied to the applicant in writing.
Based on the conversation with the leasing agent at Reeves complex, they choose not to take advantage of the state law which would give them the information they need on a person’s immigration status, without expressly having to compel an applicant to provide proof.
In addition, supporters of Reeves contend that the area where the complex is has more recently become a haven for illegals, due to Biden administration policies and an open border.
Reeves moved to Houston in 2012 and purchased the property in 2016.
Here, here, and here are articles that indicate with relative certainty that the area where the property is located has for several years been problematic with regard to violence and crime due to its proximity to the state border shared with Mexico.
This makes Reeves contention that he could not have known what he was buying and what issues would ensue, doubtful at best.
Reeves endorsements include Governor Bill Lee, Americans For Prosperity, Latinos For Tennessee, and Robby Starbuck.
The Tennessee Conservative also reached out to Reeves opponents Brian Beathard and Michelle Foreman to see if they had any response to the information.
Michelle Foreman sent the following statement:
“It is shocking, but more so, disappointing to hear that a Republican candidate in Williamson County is housing illegals in another state while claiming to be fighting on the issue in Tennessee. Mr. Reeves seems to cover for his actions by invoking the Fair Housing Act as federal law. To me, that argument would be similar to operating an abortion clinic under the protection of Roe v Wade. Just like abortion is immoral regardless of any federal law or court action, so is housing illegal immigrants immoral and destructive to the security of our communities regardless of the Fair Housing Act. During my campaign, I have vowed to take on the federal government on principle. For me, that also means that I do not allow myself to profit or in any way gain by immoral means, no matter what the federal government has to say about it. We need principled fighters in the legislature, not opportunists.”
Brian Beathard had this statement:
“Too often people say one thing and do another. When they don’t have a local record, it’s a big roll of the dice to vote for someone you don’t know.”
Early voting will begin in Tennessee on July 12th and run through July 27th. Primary election day is August 1st.
Has anybody else noticed that 99/% of politicians say one thing & do something else, what’s the definition of politics? Here It is, in Latin the word poli means many & we all know what tics are so therefore we have many blood sucking creachers!
😂 Love it! Even more amazing is that anyone even believes them at all anymore!
Was Lee Reeves put up to take votes away from Michelle Forman, the true conservative in this race? It sure looks that way.
I would like to hear Gov Bill Lee’s and Americans for Prosperity”‘s comments now that this piece of information was published. Did they know that? Are they ok with that?
Bet they are Frank because they know that ending the government school’s monopoly on education through passing voucher legislation is more important than whether Lee has rental property in Texas that legally rents to illegal aliens and Lee Reeves in the only candidate in the race who will vote FOR vouchers. VOTE REEVES!
Lee’s “hidden caption” voucher bill is a giant pork barrel spending increase on public education – increasing the financial monopoly. More raises for teachers, raises for teacher benefits, more spending for rural districts. None of the public school monopoly money follows the student – none! Vouchers are all new taxation and only 60% of per student spending of public schools. More tax & spend Republicans as usual.
Strategy Horatio, strategy. I’m afraid the government school trust made up of teachers, principles, and school administrators is too strong for us to have any chance of passing legislation to have education money follow the student all at once. That’s why the government school monopoly has been so tough to break over all these years despite its dismal result.
The strategy to break the monopoly is to establish a school choice bridgehead through vouchers which temporarily must include sweeteners for government schools. As the vouchers prove to be more and more popular the demand that they be increasingly available will be politically irresistable. Accompanying that demand will be a diminution of the political power of the government school trust. Slowly but surely students will migrate away from the government school indoctrination centers so they will require less and less taxpayer money as religious/independent/home schools became economically doable for more families through vouchers.
Here is Cameron Sexton and Rep. Haston talking the pork barrel up with their “stakeholders”, the teacher’s union, explaining how they can’t get all this pork for the public system without the leverage of the voucher bill, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DOESN’T SUPPORT IT (more public school spending for 30-year low academics). TNGOP holds children hostage to give their “stakeholders” even more – or intentionally sabotage the bill. Isn’t $13000/year per student enough?
https://rumble.com/v4jbr05-recorded-school-voucher-zoom-call-with-sexton-haston-and-bowman.html
I think so…it was known for nearly a year that Michelle was going to run for this seat.
I think so. It was know for nearly a year that Michelle was going to run for the seat and he pulled his petition last minute and is endorsed by the gov.
Early Voting Week is here and Michelle Foreman really, really wants to be a state representative so after losing a race for the office in 2022 she just happened to move into a district with an open seat in 2024 and there she is, running again. Now we have the breathless “gotcha” expose that usually accompanies the candidacy of a very, very ambitious candidate.
For conservatives job one is to BEAT BRIAN BEATHARD who is the much endorsed candidate of all the centrist/tepid conservatives in Williamson County by uniting behind the best conservative in the race.
As a conservative I want to end the government school monopoly in education in this state. To do that we need to pass vouchers to give parents a real economic choice to get their children out of government schools. Only Lee Reeves will vote for vouchers as a state representative. VOTE REEVES.
How dishonest. You’re clearly voting for Lee because he will push vouchers for the governor and AFP. The way I see it, he’s bought before he’s even in office. Not conservative.
LIE: She just moved here to run for office.
Michelle Foreman was raised in Williamson County with family in Tennessee going back generations. She graduated from Brentwood Academy and then Lipscomb. She is a local. She lived in Nashville for some years because of her work as a registered nurse with Vanderbilt. And now, she decided to move a few miles down the road and lives just outside of Leipers Fork.
LIE: She lost her last two elections.
Michelle Foreman has never lost a Republican Primary. She was elected in 2018 and served on the Republican Party State Executive Committee for four years. And in March 2024, she was elected as a Trump delegate, garner the most votes out of 14 candidates in the 7th Congressional District.
Michelle did lose two races. But they were in general elections against Democrats in heavily democratic districts in Nashville. One loss was in a nonpartisan race for Metro Council. The other loss was in 2022 against Democrat Caleb Hemmer. She got 48% of the vote in that race and almost flipped the seat red.
I thought about voting for him when I read > “Unfortunately, federal fair housing laws create legal liability for property owners who attempt to verify immigration status. This situation further highlights why we must use every resource we can to discourage illegal immigration, including protecting and not punishing business owners who seek to be part of the solution.”
But Americans for Prosperity has endorsed him and that’s the Koch group that wants illegal immigration so there is cheap labor.
So, NO, I won’t vote for him.
David, A for P is a libertarian organization that take stands on many issues, some of which conservatives can agree with, some not. A for P and Gov. Lee are endorsing Reeves because he is the only candidate in the race who will vote to end the monopoly of government schools on education by voting in favor of vouchers. Both libertarians and conservatives as well as Lee Reeves want to end the government school monopoly. VOTE REEVES!
I think the Fair Housing Act is irrelevant. This article clearly points out that this area was known for illegals long before he bought the property. As a person who travels the country with Lifestyles Unlimited, teaching others to invest in properties like this, he knew he would be housing illegals for profit. It’s about principle.
The US Constitution explains how those entering the United States illegally be dealt with.
Might wish to pick up a copy of the Constitution, read and study it.
It is a very simple read.
It will also state that the US is a Republic and not a Democracy.
Sure he blames the Gov. BUT it is his own GREED that does it. We know now who NOT to VOTE for.
I don’t think it’s legal for the landlords to verify status much less refuse to rent to illegals
He has to rent to them by law
I am impressed he wants to change the laws despite the fact he stands to loose money from illegal aliens
This is not a gotcha since he has to follow existing law
This is the opposite of a gotcha … weak smear job
If he is do hard to beat that smears are being used then he must be a strong candidate and the best suited to beat the moderates
As the article clearly lays out, he knowingly bought the property in an area filled with illegals. His name is on all of the papers, not the other investors. It’s his business. He knew these apartments would be filled with illegals for his profit. There’s a history of it in the area long before he bought the apartments. He travels the country with Lifestyles Unlimited teaching others to do the same thing.
Even without this revelation, the fact that American’s for Prosperity, a cheerleader and advocate for cheap labor and shipping jobs overseas, has seen fit to endorse this guy should be a red flag. In fact, this revelation indicates the views of AFP and Lee Reeves are in alignment; regardless of anything he says to the contrary.
This Lee Reeves clown reminds me of Harold Ford Jr. The doctrine changes with the crowd he’s pandering to.
Anyone aiding Illegal Invaders is obviously breaking the law. Not to mention being guilty of treason against the American people.