Investigation into Colorado Officers Sharing Information with Immigration Agents

An ongoing investigation looks into whether Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser shared information with federal immigration agents, potentially breaching state law. If violations are confirmed, this could lead to severe consequences, including civil penalties up to $50,000.

Lawrence Pacheco, the communications director for the Colorado Attorney General’s office, clarified in an email that the complaints against the involved deputies fall under civil lawsuits, not criminal charges. This situation arose after Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Director Alexander Zwink and another deputy were disciplined for allegedly providing information from a drug task force related to the arrest of a Brazilian university student.

During a traffic stop on June 5, Deputy Zwink allegedly approached 19-year-old nursing student Caroline Diaz Goncalbus too closely to a semi-truck. After being issued warnings and released after about 20 minutes, she was later detained by federal immigration agents.

Following the incident, Zwink was placed on three weeks of unpaid leave, while Deputy Erik Olson faced two weeks of unpaid leave. Both have been removed from active duty in the task force. Additionally, two supervisors received disciplinary actions, one with a two-day unpaid suspension and another through a letter of reprimand. A third supervisor received counseling.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office expressed regret over Diaz Goncalbus’s detention, stating that their role should not have extended to her situation. They’ve previously sought cooperation with state and federal partners to handle local crime but emphasized that their officers were not meant to enforce immigration laws.

Earlier this year, Colorado Governor Jared Polis enacted a law prohibiting local governments from sharing immigration details with federal enforcement officers. This law allows limited cooperation with federal entities for specific criminal investigations, but local agencies must steer clear of notifying authorities about undocumented individuals unless they are involved in violent offenses.

Some, like GOP Representative Gabe Evans, criticize this legislation, arguing it undermines public safety and restricts officers from effective policing. Evans, a former police officer, believes the law protects criminals rather than supporting law enforcement.