Colorado AG Sues Sheriff’s Deputy Because He Assisted ICE [WATCH]

July 26, 2025

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit against Mesa County Deputy Alexander Zwinck, accusing him of violating state law by allegedly cooperating with federal immigration authorities to detain a 19-year-old illegal alien.

COLORADO DEPUTY PLACED ON LEAVE AND SUED BY THE AG FOR AIDING ICE

Colorado AG Phil Weiser is SUING a deputy who shared information leading to a woman’s ICE arrest

Caroline Dias Goncalves was arrested by ICE shortly after she was pulled over by Deputy Alexander Zwinck for a… pic.twitter.com/PcP4pCh1L3

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Weiser announced the lawsuit Tuesday, stating that the deputy’s actions constituted unauthorized participation in federal civil immigration enforcement, which is prohibited under Colorado law.

“Colorado law is clear: it is illegal for local law enforcement to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement,” Weiser posted on social media.

“And in Colorado, we do not allow the federal government to commandeer local resources for their own agenda.”

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The lawsuit, filed in Mesa County District Court, seeks a court order barring Deputy Zwinck from engaging in similar actions in the future.

According to the complaint, Zwinck allegedly accessed and shared the driver’s personal identifying information with federal officials for purposes related to civil immigration enforcement—something state law does not permit local officers to do.

The incident began on June 5, when Deputy Zwinck conducted a traffic stop on the 19-year-old for following a semi-truck too closely.

The driver provided her license, registration, and insurance information, which Zwinck is accused of uploading to a Signal group chat that included federal immigration officials.

“Instead of ending communications with officials on the group chat since there were no criminal matters to follow up on, Deputy Zwinck proceeded to assist the federal immigration officers in detaining the driver,” the attorney general’s office said in a press release.

State investigators allege that Zwinck stalled the traffic stop to give ICE time to arrive and provided the immigration officers with his location, a description of the driver’s vehicle, her license plate number, and her direction of travel after leaving the scene.

The woman was later detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and held for more than two weeks.

“In this case, the driver was detained by immigration authorities because of actions by Colorado law enforcement despite the absence of any criminal activity on her part,” Weiser said.

“Her detention for over two weeks is directly due to this violation of Colorado’s laws.”

An administrative investigation has also been opened by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office into Zwinck’s actions.

The state claims this may not have been an isolated incident and is looking into whether other law enforcement officers in the Signal group chat may have also participated in similar conduct.

“Because of this action, we are making clear that Colorado law enforcement’s role is to advance public safety, not take on the responsibility of doing the work of federal immigration enforcement,” Weiser added.

The case comes amid ongoing debate surrounding Colorado’s sanctuary policies, particularly in Denver.

The state and its capital have been criticized for limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

In March, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston testified before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee alongside other sanctuary city mayors.

Johnston defended the city’s approach despite federal concerns about the impact of non-cooperation on public safety.

“Mike Johnston had every opportunity to condemn and change his city’s sanctuary policies,” U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said on social media Wednesday.

“He refused. Denver is a SANCTUARY CITY that makes all Coloradans less safe.”

Mike Johnston had every opportunity to condemn and change his city’s sanctuary policies.

He refused. Denver is a SANCTUARY CITY that makes all Coloradans less safe. https://t.co/X1G1XcmHo7

— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) July 23, 2025