Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit against Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Zwinck, accusing him of violating a new state law by sharing information with federal immigration agents that led to the arrest of a Brazilian college student with an expired visa.
The lawsuit, first reported by The Associated Press, marks a significant escalation in the growing conflict between state and federal immigration enforcement policies — particularly in states like Colorado, which have adopted strict “sanctuary” measures.
Incident Sparks Statewide Controversy
According to the complaint, on June 5, Deputy Zwinck pulled over Caroline Dias-Goncalves, a student from Brazil who had overstayed her visa. Zwinck issued only a warning during the traffic stop. However, shortly afterward, federal immigration agents intercepted Dias-Goncalves and took her into custody.
An internal investigation by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Zwinck, along with another deputy, Erik Olson, had used a Signal group chat that included federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to share information that ultimately led to Dias-Goncalves’s arrest.
Sheriff Todd Rowell acknowledged the department’s “misstep” in a statement, saying the sheriff’s office has clear policies to limit its involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
“Based on our findings, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office should not have had any role in the chain of events leading to Miss Dias-Goncalves’s detention, and I regret that this occurred,” Rowell said. “I apologize to Miss Dias-Goncalves.”
State Law and Legal Action
Colorado passed legislation earlier this year — signed into law by Democratic Governor Jared Polis just weeks before the incident — prohibiting local law enforcement from sharing identifying information with federal immigration agencies for the purposes of immigration enforcement.
Attorney General Phil Weiser said the lawsuit is necessary to ensure state law is upheld.
“The attorney general has a duty to enforce state laws and protect Coloradans, and he’ll continue to do so,” said spokesperson Lawrence Pacheco.
Deputy Zwinck and Deputy Olson were both placed on unpaid leave following the incident — Zwinck for three weeks and Olson for two weeks. In a July disciplinary hearing, Zwinck reportedly defended his actions, saying he was unaware of the new state law and believed he was acting appropriately as part of a task force that included federal agents.
“I was just trying to find drugs, guns, and bad guys,” Zwinck said, according to disciplinary records.
Internal Fallout and Political Implications
In addition to Zwinck and Olson, three supervising officers were also disciplined. One was suspended for two days, another received a formal reprimand, and a third underwent documented counseling.
Sheriff Rowell criticized the attorney general’s decision to move forward with legal action before the department’s internal investigation was complete.
“I am deeply disappointed in the attorney general’s decision to file a lawsuit against Deputy Zwinck prior to the completion of our investigation and prior to the determination of internal discipline,” Rowell said.
National Context
The lawsuit comes amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement, especially as President Donald Trump and his allies continue to push measures to locate and deport illegal immigrants. States like Colorado have increasingly adopted policies designed to shield immigrants from federal enforcement, creating legal and operational conflicts between different levels of government.
While the Biden administration had rolled back Trump-era immigration tactics, many of those policies have since been reversed under Trump’s renewed presidency, leading to tension between federal immigration authorities and sanctuary jurisdictions.
What’s Next
Legal experts expect the case against Deputy Zwinck to become a test of Colorado’s ability to enforce its immigration-related policies against local officers cooperating with federal authorities. The lawsuit could also influence how other sanctuary states interpret and enforce similar laws — especially in law enforcement communities where collaboration with federal agencies is still commonplace.
Dias-Goncalves remains in federal custody pending immigration proceedings.
READ NEXT: Colorado DA Acknowledges Reality Of Venezuelan Gangs
A ticking time-bomb set by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to Hurt ElectionsThey Must Be Stopped! |
Seems like this AG should have his citizenship revoked for anti-American activity. He certainly is not protecting the citizens of his state — just non-citizens who have broken our laws.