Posted May 1, 2025
This past Sunday, the DEA reported over 100 community members were detained in a massive raid led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at a nightclub in Colorado Springs. The DEA reports transferring custody of all 100 to Immigration and Customs Enforcement instead of local authorities or the US Marshals. The DEA and local authorities have so far failed to announce any significant charges against those detained. This pattern mirrors a similar “drug bust” operation in Adams County, where close to 50 people were detained and none faced criminal charges — only immigration detention.
“Once again, federal agencies are masquerading mass deportation raids as public safety operations,” said Raquel Lane-Arellano, Communications Manager of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. “They’re lying to the public, stoking fear to justify mass arrests, and using local police and the DEA to give cover to a federal deportation agenda.”
This is about instilling fear — not about justice or safety.”
Jennifer Piper, American Friends Service Committee
Video footage from the Colorado Springs raid shows law enforcement storming the nightclub with drawn weapons, creating chaos and fear. More than 200 people, including off-duty service members working as security, were present. Despite claims of gang involvement, officials have not produced evidence connecting those detained to organized crime.
“In Colorado, we know that our strength comes from standing together,” said Erika Carpentier, a Colorado Springs resident who helped respond to the aftermath of the raid and a volunteer with the Colorado Rapid Response Network (CORRN) — a community-run hotline to report suspected ICE activity in CO. “We will not allow federal scare tactics and raids to divide us. We will continue fighting for a state where everyone — regardless of immigration status — is treated with dignity and fairness.”
The raid comes amid growing legal challenges to federal immigration tactics. Last week, a judge ordered ICE not to remove people from Colorado under the Alien Enemies Act during a lawsuit over whether the Act can be used against alleged members of TdA and how it can be used.
Advocates warn that these multi-agency operations — which now routinely involve ICE, DEA, and rogue local law enforcement — are undermining constitutional rights and safe city policies in Colorado. Under an Executive Order, federal task forces are now required to invite ICE into their operations, a move designed to sidestep local and state protections for immigrants. “We are seeing a pattern: federal agencies storm spaces where immigrants gather, arrest without individualized suspicion or warrants, and falsely claim public safety risks to justify kidnapping our neighbors,” said Jennifer Piper, American Friends Service Committee. “This is about instilling fear — not about justice or safety.”
“This administration’s rhetoric and actions try to dehumanize entire communities and promote guilt by association, justifying racial profiling under the false banner of public safety,” said Laura Lunn, Director of Advocacy & Litigation at the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network. “But racial profiling is not public safety. These actions make our entire community less safe by eroding trust, intimidating families, and detaining people in mass sweeps.”
The advocates raise a series of questions in the aftermath:
- Were there arrest warrants for this operation? Or any warrants?
- How many people are facing charges? Which charges?
- On what basis did the operation determine immigration status? Which agencies questioned people on their immigration status
- What was the involvement of the Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff?
- Does the federal government continue to use any tattoo, including roses and lions, as proof of gang affiliation?
In the wake of these events, advocates encourage people to learn their constitutional rights for themselves and their communities. If you or a loved one were impacted by this raid or need support, please contact our hotline immediately: 1-844-864-8341.
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