State sues Mesa County deputy for illegal cooperation with ICE

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — After sharing information with federal immigration officers in a Signal group chat that led to the detainment of 19-year-old nursing student Caroline Dias Goncalves, Mesa County Sheriff’s deputy Alexander Zwinck said “nice work” in a message to the ICE agents.

That’s according to a press release from the Colorado Attorney General’s office, which alleges Zwinck willingly violated the state law that bars local law enforcement from sharing information with federal immigration authorities.

Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Tuesday he was suing Zwinck.

“State law specifies that Colorado law enforcement officers are dedicated to enforcing Colorado law and do not do the work of the federal government to enforce immigration law,” Weiser said in the press release.

The suit asks the court for an order stopping Zwinck from similar actions in the future. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office said it has ordered its deputies to stop participating in the chat.

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

According to Weiser's office, Zwinck knew immigration officers were on their way to Dias Gonclave's location, and Zwinck "stalled [Dias Gonclaves] in his patrol car for at least five minutes and questioned her about her national origin, commented on her accent, and asked where she was from."

Zwinck then allegedly messaged the Signal chat, which included ICE agents, a description of Dias Gonclaves' car, the license plate number and the direction she was heading.

In January, Zwinck and other patrol units received an email from the Mesa County Sheriff’s office division chief about giving information to ICE, and how state laws restrict their enforcement of immigration issues, according to the press release.

Dias Goncalves was released in late June after 15 days in the ICE detention center in Aurora.

Zwink was placed on administrative leave during an internal investigation, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office on June 19.