As part of an investigation into drug trafficking, prostitution and violent crimes at an illegal underground nightclub in Colorado Springs, over 100 illegal immigrants and more than a dozen U.S. active-duty service members were detained in a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operation on Sunday morning.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DEA Rocky Mountain Division outside of normal business hours on Sunday morning by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Colorado came to national attention last year during the presidential election when video of alleged gang members freely searching apartment complexes in Aurora prompted immense public outcry.
Police in Aurora later confirmed that the video was part of evidence to show how the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) is connected to crimes in the city, highlighting that Colorado faced crime from South American gangs and adding fuel to President Donald Trump‘s anti-immigration platform.
Trump pledged that he would enact the largest deportation operation in U.S. history of criminals after taking office and has mobilized and empowered federal authorities in order to assist with and hasten that process.
The effort has faced some pushback, with lawsuits across the country paralyzing those operations with legal gridlock amid concerns that the administration is not providing due process. The president attempted to bypass these issues by invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, but that effort has likewise been frozen by judicial review.
What To Know
DEA Rocky Mountain on Sunday morning posted video of an operation that took place around 3:45 a.m. local time in Colorado Springs as hundreds of federal agents descended on a nightclub and began arresting patrons as they fled.
The X, formerly Twitter, account for the agency posted a video of agents blocking a few men who tried to flee, holding them at gunpoint and telling them to get on the ground.
“DEA Rocky Mountain led a multi-agency enforcement operation along with our local and federal partners early this morning,” the post said. “[DHS] has taken more than 100 illegal aliens into custody. Drugs and weapons have also been seized at this underground nightclub in Colorado Springs.”
#DEA Rocky Mountain led a multi-agency enforcement operation along with our local and federal partners early this morning.@DHSgov has taken more than 100 illegal aliens into custody. Drugs and weapons have also been seized at this underground nightclub in Colorado Springs. pic.twitter.com/R4Smb3voAg
— DEARockyMountain (@DEAROCKYMTNDiv) April 27, 2025
The agency later said over 200 people had been inside the club at the time of the operation, and that ultimately 114 illegal immigrants had been arrested and placed on buses for processing and “likely eventual deportation.”
Additional video posted to X by Denver 7 chief investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski showed the scene from afar, with dozens of law enforcement vehicles cordoning off the area. Kovalski counted roughly 100 law enforcement officers executing the operation.
Authorities found pink cocaine, evidence of prostitution, and multiple firearms on the premises, according to The Colorado Springs Gazette.
More than a dozen U.S. active-duty service members were identified among the patrons at the club or working security, and while none of the authorities involved in the operation have made public comment about this yet, Denver 7 reported that the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division will investigate them and their involvement.
In a post on X, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the efforts of the various agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals service, Army CID, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the IRS, Colorado Springs police, and the El Paso and Douglas County Sheriffs.
What People Are Saying
DEA Rocky Mountain Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan C. Pullen said at a news conference Sunday morning, per ABC17 News: “What was happening inside was significant drug trafficking, prostitution, crimes of violence. We seized a number of guns in there. We had active-duty service members who were running security at the club and involved in some of these crimes. And in fact, we had over 100 illegal aliens inside as well.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on X wrote: “This morning [DEA] apprehended over 100 illegal aliens at an underground night club frequented by Tda [Tren de Aragua] and MS-13 terrorists. Cocaine, meth, and pink cocaine was seized. 2 people were also arrested on existing warrants. As we approach his 100 days in office [President] Trump’s directive to make America safe again is achieving results!”
Right-wing journalist Nick Sortor reposted the DEA video and wrote on X: “Over 100 illegals were just rounded up and ARRESTED during a nightclub raid in Colorado Springs, per DEA THIS is how it’s done! Man, this is amazing to watch.”
What Happens Next?
The illegal immigrants arrested during the operation will be processed and face likely deportation. It’s unclear where they will end up, as the U.S. has deported many people allegedly associated with TdA and MS-13, which the Trump administration declared terrorist organizations, to El Salvador’s mega-prison CECOT.
The post Over 100 Migrants, Service Members Arrested in Major Illegal Nightclub Raid appeared first on Newsweek.
