Press Article: Investigation Reveals Traffic Stop’s Connection to Immigration Detention
Mesa County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado has launched an internal investigation after discovering that confidential information from a deputy’s traffic stop was unwittingly shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leading to the detainment of University of Utah student, Caroline Dias Goncalves. The 19-year-old, who was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on June 5 and let go with a warning, was detained minutes later by ICE agents.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that messages from an encrypted Signal chat, which involved various state and federal law enforcement agencies for drug interdiction efforts, were passed to ICE agents without their knowledge, allowing them to track Dias Goncalves’ immigration status and location. This action contradicts Colorado law, which prohibits law enforcement from inquiring about residency status or sharing such information with federal immigration authorities.
Dias Goncalves, a nursing student, has been held in an immigration facility for nearly two weeks. Her family is raising funds for legal costs and has highlighted the emotional strain of her detention, urging for her release. Advocacy groups like TheDream.US have criticized the actions taken against her, questioning the impact on young immigrants pursuing education and a stable future in America.
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