Colorado Sues Deputy Over Immigration Violation During Traffic Stop

The state of Colorado has filed a lawsuit against a local law enforcement officer accused of sharing sensitive immigration information, which led to the detention of a university student with an expired visa.

On June 5, Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Zwinck pulled over 19-year-old Caroline Dias Goncalves for following a semi-truck too closely. During the stop, Zwinck reportedly delayed her, questioned her about her accent and nationality, and shared her driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance details with federal immigration authorities via a messaging app. This information enabled immigration agents to locate and arrest her.

While Zwinck initially issued a warning and released her, he provided the description of her vehicle and directed her toward a prearranged point where immigration officials awaited her arrest. He reportedly congratulated the agents afterward, with one praising him as “interdictor of the year” for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The student, who moved from Brazil with her family in 2012, had her visa expire more than ten years ago. She was detained for over two weeks in Colorado’s immigration system before being released on bail last week.

The Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser, stated that Zwinck’s actions violated state sanctuary laws, which prohibit local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement. He emphasized that law enforcement’s role is to promote public safety without engaging in federal immigration enforcement. Weiser condemned the deputy’s conduct, underscoring that her detention was a direct result of these legal violations.

This case highlights ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement priorities, especially in sanctuary states. Colorado’s legal actions aim to reinforce laws limiting local involvement in federal immigration efforts amid broader political debates on immigration policies.