Two deputies in Mesa County, Colorado, have been disciplined for sharing information with federal immigration agents—an action that violates a newly enacted state law. The case has drawn state-level legal action and ignited a growing debate over immigration enforcement boundaries.
Deputy Alexander Zwinck is now facing a lawsuit from Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser after his role in the arrest of 19-year-old Brazilian college student Caroline Dias-Goncalves came to light. Zwinck pulled over Dias-Goncalves on June 5 for allegedly tailgating a semi-truck. Although she was released with a warning, federal immigration agents stopped and detained her shortly after.
According to Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell, Zwinck shared her vehicle details and location in a Signal group chat that included agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Dias-Goncalves was taken into custody and held in a detention facility for 15 days before being released on bond.
An internal investigation later revealed that a second deputy, Erik Olson, had also shared immigration-related information with ICE. Both Zwinck and Olson were removed from the task force they worked on and placed on unpaid leave—Zwinck for three weeks and Olson for two. Supervisors also faced discipline, with one receiving a suspension, another a written reprimand, and a third undergoing counseling.
The actions violated a new Colorado law signed just weeks before the traffic stop. The law prohibits any local government employee, including law enforcement officers, from sharing identifying information with federal immigration agencies. Previously, only state agencies were subject to those restrictions.
Sheriff Rowell apologized publicly to Dias-Goncalves and said his department “should not have had any role” in her detention. However, he also pushed back against Weiser’s decision to file a lawsuit before the internal review concluded, accusing the attorney general of making a political move.
Zwinck claimed during his disciplinary hearing that he wasn’t aware of the new law and had no intention of engaging in immigration enforcement. Olson described the information-sharing as a “standard practice” and said ICE often followed up on traffic stops without clear directives against it from supervisors.
Evidence showed both deputies had received prior email guidance prohibiting contact with immigration officials in such circumstances, including a message from January 30, 2025, outlining specific limits. Despite this, they continued sharing information, citing old protocols and miscommunication.
Attorney General Weiser said his office is also investigating whether other officers in the Signal chat group violated the same law. His office defended the lawsuit, stating that the evidence pointed to a “blatant violation” of state law and warranted immediate action to uphold legal protections for Colorado residents.