ICE agents take 22 into custody at West Ashley club
By Noah Haglund (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, February 8, 2008

Charleston police and federal agents really brought down the house when they descended on a West Ashley club Thursday night, though it was probably a buzz kill for a group of illegal immigrants who got sent home — to Mexico.

Officers started investigating Club Arco Iris at 1970A Ashley River Road months ago after receiving complaints of possible drugs, prostitution and gang activity, a release states. But when it came time to boogie, Charleston police made no arrests.

The night belonged to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE agents took 22 people at the club into custody, including the manager, co-manager, a disc jockey and other employees. They were arrested on immigration charges.

"They were deported today," police public information officer Charles Francis said on Friday. "They were on their way back to Mexico." Their names were not available.

The club, whose name is Spanish for "rainbow," shares a one-story building with a Fantastic Sams hair salon and King's Valet dry cleaners near the corner of Ashley River Road and Raoul Wallenberg Boulevard.
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