Gangbangers and illegal aliens got more than they bargained for when an underground TdA and MS-13 “terrorist” nightclub in Colorado Springs was raided by the Feds this weekend. Over 100 illegal aliens were swept up in the raid, according to federal authorities.
Multi-agency operation
The multi-agency operation was conducted early Sunday by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Rocky Mountain Division. The raid nabbed 114 illegal immigrants, and there were over 200 people inside.
That’s not all that was inside either. Authorities found drugs, including pink cocaine and meth. They also uncovered prostitution going on and seized numerous firearms.
“@DHSgov has taken more than 100 illegal aliens into custody,” the DEA Rocky Mountain Division announced in a post on X Sunday. “Drugs and weapons have also been seized at this underground nightclub in Colorado Springs.”
U.S. military service members involved
The situation gets even more bizarre as there were approximately a dozen U.S. active-duty servicemembers at the club, according to Special DEA Rocky Mountain Agent Jonathan Pullen. The servicemembers were inside either as patrons or working as armed security. Every one of them should be court-martialed. They had to know what was going on there.
Fox News reported:
“I think that everybody that goes into a nightclub at 3 o’clock in the morning knows what they’re getting into,” Pullen told Denver 7 in an interview. “The active duty servicemembers who were there will be dealt with by Army CID [Criminal Investigation Division]. They were on scene with us, and they are partners in this investigation.”
According to the DEA Rocky Mountain Division and Fox News, the servicemembers have been detained but have not been arrested yet.
President Trump lauded the raid on Sunday:
“A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes, and Judges don’t want to send them back to where they came from,” Trump wrote in the post. “If we don’t win this battle at the Supreme Court, our Country, as we know it, is FINISHED! It will be a Crime ridden MESS. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Bondi takes the win
Attorney General Pam Bondi also weighed in, congratulating those who were part of the operation, which involved over 300 officials from multiple agencies, including the FBI, ATF. ICE, DHS, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the IRS, and the U.S. Postal Service.
“This morning @DEAHQ apprehended over 100 illegal aliens at an underground night club frequented by TdA and MS-13 terrorists,” Bondi announced on X. “Cocaine, meth, and pink cocaine was seized.”
“As we approach his 100 days in office @POTUS Trump’s directive to make America safe again is achieving results!” Bondi proclaimed on X.
Blue-state leftists blamed for lawlessness
DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz has previously asserted that Colorado has become “ground zero for some of the most violent criminals in America,” including Tren de Aragua’s leadership, according to Denver 7.
Officials are laying the blame squarely on the leftist leadership in the state.
“Colorado without question has been a hub for illegal immigration due to the sanctuary policies of the city of Denver in conjunction with radical legislation (including this session) from the State Capitol affirming Colorado’s sanctuary status,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly told The Gazette in an interview. “As the Sheriff of Douglas County, I will do everything I can within Colorado law to support our federal partners. This, in turn, helps keep my community safe.”
A whole bunch of those busted in the raid are expected to face federal immigration charges. At least two of those taken into custody also had existing warrants, according to Bondi.
“#DEA partners and @DHSgov placed patrons (in the U.S. illegally) on buses for processing and likely eventual deportation,” DEA Rocky Mountain Division noted.
“Colorado Springs is waking up to a safer city this Sunday morning,” Pullen remarked during a press briefing.
“When the cops showed up at the door, most of the drugs hit the floor,” he said, according to the Colorado Sun.
Fox News went on to report:
Colorado Springs Chief of Police Adrian Vasquez said the department participated in the operation “solely to address criminal violations” affecting community safety and is not authorized to conduct immigration enforcement under state law.
“I want to be clear that it is the responsibility of the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) to investigate criminal activity and make arrests when appropriate. This operation was the result of a months-long investigation into serious criminal activity in our community,” Vasquez said. “While the investigation is ongoing, arrests for these criminal violations are expected. CSPD is aware that our federal partners also detained multiple people for suspected immigration violations during the operation.”
Colorado Springs Independent mayor praises law enforcement
According to CBS News, Mayor Yemi Mobolade, the first immigrant to serve as mayor of Colorado Springs and an Independent, praised law enforcement’s efforts while condemning the alleged criminals arrested during the raid:
“Let me be clear: criminal activity of any kind, from anyone, will not be tolerated in Colorado Springs,” he asserted in a statement. “This investigation and the execution of these warrants are the result of clear evidence of serious criminal conduct. Our residents deserve to live in a city where the rule of law is upheld and where illegal behavior is met with firm and decisive action. We will continue working together to ensure the safety and well-being of our entire community.”
Operation Tidal Wave
Operation Tidal Wave, another raid carried out in Miami, Florida, busted 800 illegal aliens in its first four days, as ICE partnered with Florida law enforcement. They nailed MS-13 and 18th Street gangbangers as well a convicted Colombian murderer, and unsurprisingly, a Russian who was smacked with an Interpol Red Notice for manslaughter.
Fox News reported that alleged MS-13 gangbanger, Rafael Juarex Cabrera, who is a Guatemalan national and was apprehended in the raid, was convicted of felony reentry into the U.S. after illegally entering three times. Honduran national and suspected 18th Street gang member, Aron Isaak Morazan-Izaguiree, reentered the country twice illegally as well and was busted during the operation.
DHS Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin commented on Fox News, “This was a major success, it was a large-scale operation. And to your point, this is a preview of what is to come throughout the nation.”
“We have partnerships under 287(g) authorities that Secretary [of Homeland Security Kristi] Noem signed, and this empowers state and local law enforcement to actually be able to use their enforcement authority to carry out immigration enforcement,” she stated concerning illegal aliens who would “otherwise have been acting with impunity and terrorizing U.S. communities.”
“You are going to be seeing this throughout the country, and I think that Americans are going to be really thrilled with the results under this administration in the next 100 days,” McLaughlin added.
