Posted June 19, 2025
Immigrant rights advocates across Colorado are sounding the alarm after reports that Mesa County law enforcement may have assisted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the detention of Caroline Dias Goncalves, a student at the University of Utah who was driving through Fruita, Colorado. This apparent collaboration with ICE—without a warrant or court order—may violate several state laws meant to protect Colorado residents from unauthorized entanglement with federal immigration enforcement.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that a Colorado law enforcement passed private identifying information to ICE in violation of Colorado law designed to defend our communities. No one should have to live in fear that a routine traffic stop could lead to ICE detention. Now, Caroline and her family are going through unimaginable suffering that could have been prevented if our laws were followed,” said Raquel Lane-Arellano, Communications Manager with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC).
Advocate groups include: Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC), Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA), Hispanic Affairs Project (HAP), Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center, Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP), Movimiento Poder, Together Colorado, Juntos Community, Casa de Paz, and La Plaza, Palisade, CO.
This troubling incident comes on the heels of a whistleblower lawsuit against Governor Polis himself for allegedly ordering state officials to share personal data with ICE absent a judicial warrant or subpoena— in violation of the very laws he signed to protect Coloradans from immigration enforcement overreach. The arrest of Caroline marks an alarming trend of state and local agencies that appear to be disregarding laws that prohibit cooperation with ICE without a warrant or court order. These repeated breaches of trust send a chilling message to immigrant communities across Colorado. With increased federal overreach it is more important than ever that Colorado leaders affirm their commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all residents.
State laws that may have been violated:
- HB19-1124 (2019): Prohibits local law enforcement from honoring civil immigration detainers without a judicial warrant and bars holding individuals beyond their release time solely for ICE.
- SB21-131 (2021): Forbids Colorado government agencies and employees from sharing non-public personal identifying information (PII) for immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.
- SB25-276 (2025): Further clarifies that law enforcement cannot share PII for immigration purposes without a judicial warrant.
Caroline Dias Goncalves was pulled over during a routine traffic stop in Mesa County and let go with a warning. She was detained by ICE shortly after Mesa County Law Enforcement flagged her case in a multi-agency law enforcement chat that included immigration agents. This kind of information sharing and coordination raises serious legal and constitutional concerns—and represents a betrayal of the values and laws of our state. In their own statement, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged that they made a mistake, took steps to correct it, and expressed openness to improving their practices. We thank them for making that change and urge them to follow through by collaborating with organizations like CIRC to train their staff on Colorado’s immigration laws and the importance of protecting all residents’ rights.
“Colorado has taken important steps over the past several years to disentangle local law enforcement from ICE, to ensure that all Coloradans—regardless of immigration status—can feel safe driving, going to school, or seeking help in an emergency,” said Annie Martínez, Litigation Director with the Colorado Center on Law & Policy. “When these laws are ignored, it’s not just a policy failure—it’s a violation of community trust and a threat to public safety.”
“Caroline’s detention sends a chilling message to communities across the state,” said Ricardo Perez, Executive Director of the Hispanic Affairs Project (HAP). “We must make clear that in Colorado, we do not hand our neighbors over to ICE, and we will fight for a state where all of us are safe—no exceptions.”
This case threatens to undermine years of work to make Colorado a place where all families can thrive. When law enforcement ignores state law, it puts lives at risk and erodes public trust. We call on Attorney General Phil Weiser to launch a full investigation into the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Governor Polis, and to take immediate action to ensure every state agency is in full compliance with Colorado’s laws.
It is critical that all Colorado agencies follow the law, stop unlawful information sharing, and help restore the trust that communities deserve. We will continue to hold officials accountable to the protections Coloradans fought hard to win and to the values of fairness and dignity for all our residents.
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