A Colorado sheriff’s deputy’s routine traffic stop has sparked a legal firestorm.
Fox News reported that on June 5, 2025, Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Zwinck stopped 19-year-old nursing student Caroline Dias-Goncalves near Fruita for tailgating a semi-truck, leading to her brief detention and a federal immigration arrest for an expired visa.
Zwinck now faces a civil lawsuit from Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser for allegedly violating state law by sharing information with federal immigration agents, a case that could cost him $50,000.
Zwinck pulled Dias-Goncalves over for a minor traffic infraction, issuing a warning after 20 minutes. Federal immigration agents swooped in shortly after, arresting her for visa issues. This incident exposes the friction between Colorado’s new sanctuary laws and federal enforcement priorities.
Colorado’s 2025 legislation, signed by Gov. Jared Polis, bans local law enforcement from proactively sharing immigration data with federal agencies like ICE.
Cooperation is allowed only in specific criminal investigations, with violations carrying a steep $50,000 fine. Zwinck’s actions, whether intentional or not, seem to have crossed this legal line.
“The complaint filed against the deputy is a civil lawsuit (not criminal). Violations of these laws … can result in an injunction and civil penalties up to $50,000,” said Lawrence Pacheco, communications director for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
This hefty penalty underscores the state’s hardline stance, but one wonders if it’s more about political posturing than public safety.
Zwinck didn’t act alone—another deputy, Erik Olson, was also disciplined. Olson received two weeks of unpaid leave and was yanked from a drug task force. The state’s rules seem to punish cops for doing what many see as their job: coordinating with federal partners.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office didn’t escape scrutiny. An administrative review found deputies should’ve stayed out of immigration matters entirely. Sheriff Todd Rowell issued a public apology, admitting the department’s misstep.
“Based on our findings, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office should not have had any role in the chain of events leading to Miss Dias-Goncalves’s detention, and I regret that this occurred,” Rowell stated. His contrition is notable, but it sidesteps the broader issue: how are deputies supposed to navigate these murky legal waters?
Rowell added, “Although discussions were had with HSI supervision in the months preceding this incident to ensure my deputies would not be involved in immigration enforcement, the administrative review showed that those lines of collaboration were crossed.” This admission highlights a training failure, yet Colorado’s law leaves little room for honest mistakes.
Zwinck was hit with three weeks of unpaid leave and removed from a drug task force. Two supervisors also faced consequences: one got a two-day suspension without pay, another a letter of reprimand. A third supervisor received counseling, suggesting a systemic lapse in oversight.
These punishments feel like a bureaucratic overreach, especially when deputies are caught between state restrictions and federal expectations.
Colorado’s law seems designed to chill cooperation, leaving law enforcement in a no-win situation. Dias-Goncalves, meanwhile, was released after her brief detention, but her case has become a lightning rod.
“This new law gives a narrow exception for Colorado law enforcement to cooperate with the federal government if ICE or the Department of Homeland Security asks for assistance in a particular crime investigation,” wrote Kristi Burton Brown, executive vice president of Advance Colorado.
Her point clarifies the law’s tight leash, but it ignores how such restrictions hamper effective policing.
Brown also noted, “There is an absolute ban on local law enforcement proactively notifying DHS if they discover that a violent criminal or repeat felon is here illegally.” This policy, she argues, ties the hands of officers dealing with serious offenders. It’s a fair critique—why prioritize sanctuary status over community safety?
Rep. Gabe Evans, a former police officer, didn’t mince words: “As a former cop, I know firsthand how Colorado’s sanctuary laws have flipped the switch on crime, handcuffing cops instead of criminals.” His post on X resonates with those frustrated by progressive policies that seem to favor optics over outcomes.
