Colorado AG Sues Sheriff's Deputy for Alleged ICE Leak of Woman with Expired Visa

Colorado Attorney General Sues Deputy for Alleged Illegal Cooperation with ICE

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit against a Mesa County sheriff's deputy, alleging that the officer violated state law by sharing information about a woman with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a traffic stop. The incident involved a 19-year-old nursing student from Utah who was allegedly in the country on an expired visa.

According to Weiser, the deputy, Alexander Zwinck, used an encrypted Signal chat to communicate with ICE officials. This communication led to the detention of Caroline Dias Goncalves, a Brazilian national, following a traffic stop. The attorney general claims that Zwinck’s actions were unlawful and that he shared personal identifying information about the driver with federal immigration authorities.

Weiser is also investigating the alleged coordination between the Mesa County Sheriff's Office and ICE, which he says violates a state law that prohibits local and state governments from assisting with civil immigration enforcement. This issue has sparked a legal battle, as the U.S. Department of Justice is currently suing the state over its policies regarding such cooperation.

At a news conference, Weiser emphasized that Colorado law enforcement officers are not meant to enforce federal immigration laws. He stated that the woman was detained solely because of the deputy's actions, despite no criminal activity being involved. "State law specifies that Colorado law enforcement officers are dedicated to enforcing Colorado law and do not do the work of the federal government to enforce immigration law," Weiser said.

The lawsuit, filed in Mesa County District Court, seeks an order to prevent the deputy from engaging in similar conduct in the future. According to court documents, Zwinck allegedly provided information about the car driven by Goncalves to ICE agents through the Signal chat. As a result, ICE agents arrested her and transferred her to the Aurora detention center.

In the chat, Zwinck reportedly wrote, "nice work," after learning of her detention. Another officer commented that "Zwinck is gonna get ERO interdictor of the year," referring to a division within ICE focused on enforcement and removal operations.

Goncalves described her experience as "the worst of her life," noting that she was separated from her home, friends, and family, and filled with fear. She was detained for over two weeks due to the alleged violation of Colorado’s laws.

Zwinck does not yet have an attorney in the case, according to court records. A spokesperson for the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, while not named in the lawsuit, stated that the office is completing an administrative investigation into the June 5, 2025, incident involving Goncalves. They promised transparency and will release a formal statement once the investigation is complete.

The sheriff's office released two statements last month regarding the traffic stop, arrest, and deputies' participation in the group chat. One statement emphasized that the office does not investigate residency status during law enforcement interactions. It also mentioned that the deputy was part of a communication group focused on drug interdiction efforts, and they were unaware that the group was used for immigration purposes.

The second statement acknowledged that federal representatives began using the collected information for immigration enforcement, which contradicted Colorado law. Despite this, the sheriff's office stated it would continue working with federal officials on drug enforcement operations.

This case highlights the ongoing tension between state and federal law enforcement agencies, particularly regarding the role of local police in immigration enforcement. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome could set a precedent for how law enforcement agencies across the state handle similar situations in the future.