A lawsuit has been filed against a police officer in Colorado by the state’s Sanctuary State, following an incident last month where the officer allegedly provided information to federal immigration agents regarding a nursing student with an expired visa from the University of Utah.
Mesa County Sheriff Deputy Alexander Zwink initiated a traffic stop on 19-year-old Caroline Dias Goncalves for being too close to a semi-truck on the highway on June 5. During this encounter, he reportedly aided federal agents in apprehending her, although she had no prior criminal record. The problem was her tourist visa, which had expired over a decade ago.
Goncalves moved to the U.S. from Brazil in 2012 with her family. During the stop, Zwinck allegedly shared her driver’s license and insurance details in a group message that included Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The lawsuit claims that the officer delayed the traffic stop by several minutes, asking about her background and accent while she was in the patrol car. This seemingly intentional delay gave federal agents more time to act.
Although Zwinck issued her a warning, he reportedly also informed the immigration officer about her vehicle and gave her directions to follow. Post-arrest, he communicated with his colleagues, expressing gratitude for the arrest and received praise, even being suggested as “Coach of the Year” for ICE.
According to Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, such actions breach the state’s sanctuary laws, which prohibit local enforcement from engaging in immigration enforcement activities. He stated that Dias Goncalves was detained despite no criminal activity, emphasizing that this was a violation of Colorado law.
Weiser also pointed out that the goal of Colorado law enforcement is to prioritize public safety rather than assume the responsibilities of federal immigration agents.
Goncalves was eventually released from the Colorado Immigration Detention Center after spending 15 days there, with bail reportedly posted last week.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of aggressive deportation strategies promoted by the Trump administration, which has aimed to deploy ICE agents in sanctuary cities and states, even taking legal action against Colorado and Denver for obstructions regarding their enforcement of federal immigration laws.
A spokesperson for the administration noted that efforts are being made to maintain the integrity of visa programs without allowing individuals to remain in the U.S. unlawfully.
