Two Colorado Deputies Disciplined Over Sharing Immigration Info, Sparking Controversy
In a recent and somewhat controversial incident, two deputies from Mesa County, Colorado, found themselves disciplined for sharing information with federal immigration agents — a move that goes against a new state law passed just months ago. The case came to light after a 19-year-old Brazilian nursing student was arrested by ICE agents following a routine traffic stop. This incident has ignited debates over immigration enforcement and local law enforcement’s role in it.
What Happened?
On June 5, Caroline Dias-Goncalves, a 19-year-old nursing student from Brazil, was pulled over by Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Zwinck. The stop was reportedly due to Dias-Goncalves driving too close to a semi-truck. After about 20 minutes, Zwinck let her go with a warning, but the story didn’t end there.
Shortly after the stop, federal immigration agents swooped in and arrested Dias-Goncalves for having an expired visa. The arrest happened because Zwinck had shared her location and a description of her vehicle in a private group chat that included ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents. The chat was run through an encrypted app called Signal, used by deputies and task force members to communicate.
Dias-Goncalves was then taken to a detention center and held for 15 days before she was released on bond.
The Fallout: Internal Investigation & Punishments
After this incident became public, an internal investigation was launched by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. It revealed that a second deputy, Erik Olson, who also served on the drug task force, had shared immigration-related information with federal agents via the same Signal chat.
As a result, Deputy Zwinck was placed on three weeks of unpaid leave, while Deputy Olson received two weeks of unpaid leave. Both deputies were removed from the drug task force.
The investigation also disciplined three supervisors. One was suspended without pay for two days, another received a formal letter of reprimand, and a third was given counseling. Clearly, the leadership chain faced consequences too.
Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell publicly apologized to Dias-Goncalves, saying, “The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office should not have had any role in the chain of events leading to Miss Dias-Goncalves’ detention, and I regret that this occurred. I apologize to Miss Dias-Goncalves.”
The Law Behind It: Colorado’s Immigration Policy
The disciplinary actions stemmed from a new Colorado state law signed by Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, roughly two weeks before Dias-Goncalves’ arrest. This law bars local government employees — including police and deputies — from sharing identifying information about individuals with federal immigration authorities.
Before this law, only state agencies were restricted from such cooperation, but local law enforcement officers had more leeway. The new law is part of a broader movement in Colorado to limit the state’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
However, the law is controversial. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has already sued Colorado, claiming that the state’s restrictions on immigration cooperation violate the U.S. Constitution and federal immigration laws.
Deputies Claim They Were Just Following “Standard Practice”
Despite the law being in place, Deputies Zwinck and Olson defended their actions, saying they thought they were following established protocols.
At his disciplinary hearing, Zwinck said he was unaware of the new law and had no interest in assisting immigration enforcement.
Olson, a veteran deputy, stated, “It was routine for ICE to show up on the back end of a traffic stop to do their thing. I truly thought what we were doing was condoned by our supervision and lawful.”
Interestingly, the internal investigation uncovered that both deputies had received emails earlier this year reminding law enforcement not to share immigration information or contact federal agents like Homeland Security Investigations or ICE when someone suspected of being undocumented was arrested for a violent crime.
One such email, sent on January 30, 2025, explicitly instructed deputies to avoid these contacts. So, the deputies had been formally warned but claimed ignorance or misunderstanding of the new legal boundaries.
Sheriff Rowell vs. Attorney General Weiser
The situation took a political turn when Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit against Deputy Zwinck last week — before Mesa County Sheriff Rowell’s internal investigation was complete.
Sheriff Rowell criticized the Attorney General’s move, saying it sent a “demoralizing message” to law enforcement officers across Colorado. He argued that the lawsuit appeared to be politically motivated rather than a fair application of the law.
“As it stands, the lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office sends a demoralizing message to law enforcement officers across Colorado — that the law may be wielded selectively and publicly for maximum political effect rather than applied fairly and consistently,” Rowell stated.
Rowell also revealed that other members of the drug task force from various agencies, including the Colorado State Patrol, allegedly shared information with immigration agents on the Signal chat. However, the Colorado State Patrol has denied these allegations.
What Does Attorney General Weiser Say?
From his side, AG Weiser defended his actions and said he had to respond after being presented with evidence of what he called a “blatant violation of state law.” His office announced it is also investigating whether other officers in the Signal chat violated the law.
A spokesperson for Weiser emphasized, “The attorney general has a duty to enforce state laws and protect Coloradans, and he’ll continue to do so.”
This stance highlights the tension between state government efforts to protect immigrant communities and federal immigration enforcement priorities.
Why This Matters: Broader Implications
This case shines a spotlight on the complex and often contentious relationship between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
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For immigrant communities, laws like Colorado’s offer protection from local involvement in immigration enforcement, which many believe helps foster trust between police and residents.
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For law enforcement officers, it can create confusion, especially when policies shift and the boundaries of cooperation are unclear or politically charged.
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For politicians and policymakers, this issue is a hot-button topic that pits state autonomy and humanitarian concerns against federal immigration enforcement and national security priorities.
What’s Next?
The lawsuit against Zwinck is ongoing, and more investigations into the group chat’s activities may bring further disciplinary or legal actions.
Meanwhile, the DOJ’s lawsuit against Colorado’s sanctuary policies adds another layer of complexity, potentially setting the stage for a legal showdown over how far states can go in limiting immigration enforcement at the local level.
As this story develops, it’s a reminder that immigration enforcement is not just a federal issue but one that deeply affects local communities and the officers sworn to protect them.
Key Takeaways:
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Colorado deputies disciplined for sharing immigration info despite a new law.
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A Brazilian student was arrested by ICE after a traffic stop and information sharing.
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Internal investigation found two deputies and three supervisors at fault.
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The law prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agents.
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Deputies claim ignorance of the new law and say sharing info was “standard practice.”
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Political clash between Mesa County Sheriff and Colorado Attorney General over lawsuit timing.
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Broader debate on immigration enforcement, state laws, and federal authority continues.
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