Colorado Deputies Disciplined for Defying State Ban on Sharing Immigration Info with ICE

Two sheriff’s deputies in Colorado have been formally disciplined for violating a newly enacted state law that restricts local cooperation with federal immigration agencies, following revelations they shared an illegal immigrant’s information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Deputy Alexander Zwinck of Mesa County became the focus of a civil lawsuit filed by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser after he allegedly disclosed identifying details about Caroline Dias-Goncalves, a 19-year-old Brazilian college student, including her location and vehicle description. 

The student, who had overstayed her visa, was taken into federal custody and spent more than two weeks in detention before being released on bond.

The events stemmed from a June 5 traffic stop, just two weeks after Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a law prohibiting local authorities from sharing personally identifiable data with federal immigration agents. 

According to reports, Zwinck shared Dias-Goncalves’ information in a group chat used by members of a regional drug task force, which included ICE agents.

Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell confirmed that Zwinck, along with Deputy Erik Olson, participated in the encrypted chat on Signal. 

Olson stated during a disciplinary hearing that it was routine for ICE to follow up on traffic stops involving noncitizens. 

“It was routine for ICE to show up on the back end of a traffic stop to do their thing,” Olson said. “I truly thought what we were doing was condoned by our supervision and lawful.”

However, an internal probe found both deputies had been told not to share such information. 

A department-wide email sent Jan. 30 explicitly directed officers to refrain from notifying immigration authorities, even when dealing with suspects involved in violent crime who could not prove legal residency. 

Records show that both Zwinck and Olson had received and opened that message, Fox News reports.

The disciplinary consequences included a three-week unpaid suspension and task force removal for Zwinck and a two-week unpaid suspension for Olson. 

Additionally, three supervisors faced disciplinary measures. One received a letter of reprimand, another a two-day suspension and the third underwent counseling.

Sheriff Rowell issued a public apology to Dias-Goncalves and stated the sheriff’s office should not have played a part in the student’s detention. 

At the same time, he criticized Weiser’s legal action against Zwinck, calling it premature and politically motivated. 

“The lawsuit sends a demoralizing message to law enforcement officers across Colorado — that the law may be wielded selectively and publicly for maximum political effect rather than applied fairly and consistently,” he said.

In response, Weiser’s office defended the decision to pursue legal action.

 Spokesperson Lawrence Pacheco said the office was obligated to act in light of what it called a “blatant violation of state law.” 

“The attorney general has a duty to enforce state laws and protect Coloradans, and he’ll continue to do so,” Pacheco said.

The law in question extends prior limits on state-level immigration cooperation by barring all local government entities from providing assistance to federal immigration enforcement. 

Colorado is among several states tightening restrictions on collaboration with ICE, prompting legal disputes with the federal government.

Rowell also claimed other law enforcement agencies on the task force, including the Colorado State Patrol, took part in similar information sharing. That agency has denied the accusation.

The attorney general’s office has indicated it is continuing to investigate whether additional law enforcement personnel may have violated the new law.

WATCH:

HOLY SHLIT

More Colorado officers facing DISCIPLINARY ACTION for sharing information about illegals with ICE:

– Deputy Zwinck was placed on three weeks of unpaid administrative leave. He will be removed from his current assignment and reassigned to patrol.
– Deputy Erik Olson… pic.twitter.com/vJt9N9ZrDo

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 1, 2025

The post Colorado Deputies Disciplined for Defying State Ban on Sharing Immigration Info with ICE appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.