DENVER — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit against Mesa County sheriff’s deputy Alexander Zwinck, accusing him of unlawfully cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in violation of state law.
Weiser announced the lawsuit Tuesday, stating, “Colorado law is clear: it is illegal for local law enforcement to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement,” adding that the state will not allow federal authorities to “commandeer local resources for their own agenda.”
The lawsuit, filed in Mesa County District Court, centers on a June 5 traffic stop. Zwinck pulled over a 19-year-old woman for following too closely behind a semitruck. After obtaining her license, registration, and insurance information, Zwinck allegedly shared her personal data in a group chat on Signal that included federal immigration officers.
According to the lawsuit, Zwinck continued to engage with federal officials despite no criminal charges being involved. He reportedly stalled the driver and sent the officers her car description, license plate number, and travel direction. She was later detained by ICE and held for more than two weeks.
“This driver was detained by immigration authorities because of actions by Colorado law enforcement despite the absence of any criminal activity,” Weiser said. “Her detention is directly due to this violation of Colorado’s laws.”
The attorney general’s office claims this wasn’t an isolated incident and is investigating other officers who may have participated in the group chat. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has also launched an administrative investigation into Zwinck’s actions.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to prevent Zwinck from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
Weiser emphasized that Colorado law enforcement should focus on public safety, not federal immigration duties: “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.”
The case comes amid heightened debate over Colorado’s sanctuary policies. Denver, a self-declared sanctuary city, has faced growing scrutiny. In March, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston joined several other mayors in testifying before Congress on the topic. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert criticized Johnston, saying, “Denver is a SANCTUARY CITY that makes all Coloradans less safe.”
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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