FOLLOW US

Case Summary

• Two Mesa County deputies disciplined for sharing information with ICE during a drug task force operation.
• Deputy Alexander Zwinck sued under a new state law signed by Gov. Jared Polis; both deputies removed from task force and placed on unpaid leave.
• Tensions flare between state sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement, raising questions about “lawfare” and selective application of justice.

Two Colorado deputies have been disciplined and one faces a lawsuit from the state's attorney general for violating Colorado law by assisting federal immigration agents. The case highlights growing tensions between state sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, with law enforcement officers caught in the middle of conflicting legal requirements.

By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald

A brewing legal battle in Colorado has placed two Mesa County sheriff's deputies at the center of a contentious dispute over state versus federal immigration enforcement priorities, raising critical questions about how law enforcement officers navigate conflicting legal obligations in an increasingly polarized political landscape.

The controversy erupted following the June arrest of a Brazilian college student with an expired visa, an incident that would ultimately expose a broader pattern of information sharing between local deputies and federal immigration agents through encrypted messaging platforms.

Deputy Alexander Zwinck now faces a lawsuit filed by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser after an internal investigation revealed that Zwinck had been sharing identifying information about individuals with federal immigration officials in direct violation of state law. A second deputy, Erik Olson, was also found to have participated in similar information sharing through a Signal chat group used to communicate with federal agents.

The legal foundation for the state's action stems from legislation signed by Governor Jared Polis approximately two weeks before the Brazilian student's arrest. This law specifically prohibits local government employees, including law enforcement officers, from sharing identifying information about individuals with federal immigration officials. The statute expanded previous restrictions that had only applied to state agencies.

"The attorney general has a duty to enforce state laws and protect Coloradans and he'll continue to do so," stated spokesperson Lawrence Pacheco, defending Weiser's decision to pursue legal action against Zwinck.

Disciplinary Actions and Departmental Response

Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell announced significant disciplinary measures following the completion of an internal investigation. Zwinck received three weeks of unpaid leave, while Olson was suspended for two weeks without pay. Both deputies were immediately removed from their drug task force assignments.

The disciplinary actions extended beyond the two primary deputies involved. Two supervisors also faced consequences, with one receiving a two-day unpaid suspension and another receiving a formal letter of reprimand. A third supervisor underwent counseling as part of the department's response to the violations.

According to investigation documents released by the sheriff's office, both deputies had received and acknowledged emails prior to the new law's passage that outlined existing limitations on cooperation with federal immigration officials. The most recent communication, sent on January 30, 2025, explicitly instructed officers not to contact Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a federal official had requested such cooperation during a law enforcement meeting.

Officers Defend Actions as Standard Operating Procedure

Both deputies maintained during disciplinary hearings that they believed their actions aligned with established departmental procedures and had no knowledge of the new legal restrictions.

"When I was out there, I wanted to find drugs, guns and bad guys," Zwinck testified at his July 23 disciplinary hearing. "And sending that information to HSI they provided the ability to give me real time background information on the person I was in contact with."

Olson, an 18-year veteran of the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, emphasized the routine nature of such communications during his hearing. "It was routine for ICE to show up on the back end of a traffic stop to do their thing," Olson stated. "I truly thought what we were doing was condoned by our supervision and lawful."

Despite these explanations, the internal investigation determined that both officers had been properly notified of legal restrictions on immigration-related information sharing prior to their violations.

Broader Implications for State-Federal Relations

This case represents a microcosm of the larger conflict between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies. Since President Trump's inauguration, numerous states including Illinois, Vermont, California, and Connecticut have advanced pro-immigrant legislation designed to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The federal government has responded with its own legal challenges, with the U.S. Department of Justice filing lawsuits against Illinois, New York, and several cities in those states and New Jersey, alleging their policies violate the U.S. Constitution or federal immigration laws.

Sheriff Rowell criticized the timing and public nature of the attorney general's lawsuit, arguing that it undermines law enforcement morale and represents political posturing rather than fair legal application.

"As it stands, the lawsuit filed by the Attorney General's Office 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," Rowell stated.

Multi-Agency Involvement Allegations

The scope of the information sharing may extend beyond the two disciplined deputies. Sheriff Rowell alleged that drug task force members from other law enforcement agencies, including the Colorado State Patrol, also participated in sharing information with immigration agents through the Signal chat platform. However, the Colorado State Patrol has denied these claims.

Attorney General Weiser has indicated that his office is investigating whether additional officers involved in the chat group violated state law, suggesting that further legal action may be forthcoming.

Political Ramifications and Future Enforcement

The case has taken on additional political significance as Attorney General Weiser is currently running for governor. Sheriff Rowell has called on the Democrat to drop the lawsuit against Zwinck, framing it as an example of selective law enforcement for political gain.

The incident also highlights the challenging position of law enforcement officers who must navigate between conflicting state and federal legal requirements. Under the Trump administration's expanded immigration enforcement policies, hundreds of state and local law enforcement agencies have been enlisted to help identify and detain immigrants in the U.S. illegally for potential deportation.

Trump has also relaxed longtime restrictions on immigration enforcement near sensitive locations such as schools, churches, and hospitals, further expanding the scope of potential federal-local cooperation.

The case now moves forward with Zwinck facing ongoing legal proceedings while both deputies adjust to their removal from drug task force operations. The outcome may set important precedents for how similar conflicts between state sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement are resolved in Colorado and potentially other states with similar legislative frameworks.

🛑 It should be noted that the assertions in Attorney General Weiser's lawsuit are merely allegations and have not been proven in a court of law.