Key Points – Nightclub ICE Raid
- Over 100 illegal migrants arrested at Colorado nightclub
- DEA leads dramatic early morning multi-agency operation
- Pink cocaine, weapons, and drugs found inside the club
- Active duty service members among those detained
- Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and Hell’s Angels linked to location
- ICE also conducts massive sweep in Florida with 780 arrests
- Trump administration expands local enforcement role in immigration
Nightclub ICE Raid Sees Over 100 Illegal Migrants Arrested in Colorado Bust
It was a wild night that ended in handcuffs.
Over 100 illegal migrants were dramatically arrested after police and federal agents raided an underground nightclub in Colorado Springs early Sunday morning.
The Rocky Mountain Division of the DEA led the massive sting operation. Alongside local cops and federal ICE agents, they stormed the building at 3 a.m., catching dozens of partygoers by surprise.
Sirens blared as armed officers surrounded the club. Panicked clubbers fled in every direction while women in heels screamed and dropped to the ground under the blinding lights.
Chaos Erupts During Nightclub ICE Raid
Video captured the stunning moment a woman on her phone collapsed as officers bashed in the door.
Another man, clutching a beer, froze, dropped his drink, and raised his hands high before dropping to his knees. Others sprinted toward exits as officers yelled for everyone to surrender.
DEA Special Agent Jonathan Pullen said the raid was part of a larger probe into drug trafficking, prostitution, and violent crimes tied to the club.
Authorities confirmed the location’s proximity to Aurora, where the infamous Tren de Aragua gang has roots. MS-13 and Hell’s Angels gang members were also believed to frequent the club.
Drugs, Guns, and Illegal Migrants Flood the Scene
Inside the building, chaos continued. Officers recovered drugs, weapons, and identified dozens of people without legal immigration status.
Pink cocaine — known as “tusi” — was among the substances seized. Investigators found at least a dozen small drug packages scattered throughout the club.
Pullen revealed that more than a dozen active duty service members were also discovered inside, some working security and others partying. The United States Army Criminal Investigation Division has now launched its own investigation into their conduct.
Most detainees were handed over to ICE for processing. Many are expected to face federal immigration charges.
However, Pullen explained that prosecuting drug charges would be difficult. Proving individual possession during the chaotic bust was nearly impossible.
Still, officials say Colorado Springs woke up to a “safer city” after the operation.
Massive Florida ICE Sweep Mirrors Colorado Bust
The Colorado raid wasn’t the only ICE action making headlines.
In Florida, a similar sweep dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave” saw nearly 780 illegal migrants arrested last week. ICE partnered with Homeland Security and local police for the crackdown.
Many detainees in Florida had final orders of removal, meaning courts had already ruled they must leave the country.
Among those caught was Jose Sanchez Reyes, a Colombian convicted of homicide, and Rafael Juarex Cabrera, an MS-13 member who re-entered the U.S. illegally three times.
High-Risk Criminals Nabbed in ICE Raids
The Florida operation also snagged Russian immigrant Savva Klishchevskii, wanted for vehicular manslaughter under an Interpol Red Notice.
Honduran gang member Aron Isaak Morazan-Izaguirre, a known 18th Street Gang affiliate, was arrested as well.
The raids targeted migrants deemed public safety threats, with authorities using 287(g) agreements to deputize local law enforcement for immigration enforcement.
ICE Director Todd Lyons described the Florida mission as a “whole government approach” to secure communities.
“This is one of the first large-scale missions we’ve done like this ever,” Lyons said.
Since President Trump took office, ICE operations across the U.S. have ramped up aggressively. The administration has expanded cooperation with state and local authorities to accelerate deportations.
Colorado Bust Highlights Growing Concerns
Sunday’s nightclub ICE raid highlights the rising concern over underground venues tied to drug gangs and violent crime.
Authorities say operations like these are crucial for restoring public safety, especially as dangerous gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 embed deeper into American cities.
The combination of drugs, weapons, and organized crime poses serious risks. Officials believe that without swift action, underground clubs like the one in Colorado Springs could fuel broader criminal networks across the region.
Given the early success of Operation Tidal Wave and Sunday’s Colorado raid, experts say similar high-profile crackdowns are likely to continue.
With federal and local authorities working together more closely under 287(g) partnerships, immigration enforcement operations could reach new heights in coming months.
For now, the nightclub in Colorado Springs stands empty. But the message from law enforcement is loud and clear: illegal clubs, drug trafficking, and gang activity will not go unchallenged.