The sanctuary state of Colorado is suing a local cop who allegedly gave federal immigration agents information on a University of Utah nursing student with an expired visa, leading to her arrest last month.
Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Zwinck pulled over 19-year-old Caroline Dias Goncalves on June 5 for driving too closely to a semitruck on the highway before he allegedly helped the feds nab the Brazilian citizen.
Dias Goncalves didn’t have a criminal history, but she had a tourist visa that expired “over a decade ago,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
The college student moved to the US from Brazil with her family in 2012, according to Fox 13.
Zwinck allegedly shared Dias Goncalves’ driver’s license, vehicle registration and insurance information in a Signal group message that included Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The deputy stalled the young woman for a few minutes during the traffic stop, asking about her accent and national origin while inside his patrol car, according to the lawsuit.
The delay tactic bought the feds some time.
While Zwinck let her go with a warning, he provided the immigration officers with a description of her car and told the student to head in a certain direction, where the feds were waiting to arrest her, the suit says.
Zwinck allegedly congratulated the agents on the arrest, saying “rgr, nice work.” He was also praised by one fed, who said Zwinck should be tapped as “interdictor of the year” for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said Zwinck’s actions violated the state’s sanctuary law that blocks local cops from doing “the work of the federal government to enforce immigration law.”
“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,” said Weiser.
“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,” he added.
Dias Goncalves was released from immigration detention after posting bail last week, according to Fox 13.
As part of its mass deportation campaign, the Trump administration has pledged to flood sanctuary cities and states with ICE agents. It has also sued Colorado and the city of Denver for “obstructing” federal law in blocking local cops from playing ball with ICE.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S,” McLaughlin said in a statement.
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