The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has issued a statement in response to media reports regarding the ICE detainment of Caroline Dias Goncalves, a 19-year-old University of Utah student, following a traffic stop by one of their deputies on June 5, 2025. While the office asserts that they do not investigate residency status and were unaware of the immigration-related use of a multi-agency communication group, questions remain about how ICE obtained information leading to her arrest.
Details of the Incident
On June 5, 2025, Caroline Dias Goncalves was pulled over by a Mesa County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Interstate 70 near Fruita, Colorado, for allegedly driving too close to a semi-truck. During the stop, which lasted less than 20 minutes, the deputy questioned her about her license, which she presented, and her accent, asking where she was from. Dias Goncalves disclosed that she was born in Brazil and came to the United States with her parents in 2012 when she was seven years old. She was released from the traffic stop with a warning.
Later that day, while continuing her drive on Interstate 70, Dias Goncalves was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and taken to an immigration detention center in Aurora, Colorado.
Sheriff’s Office Response
In a statement released by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, they acknowledged the traffic stop and emphasized that, in accordance with Colorado law, they do not investigate residency status during law enforcement interactions. The statement also revealed that the deputy involved was part of a communication group that included local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for a multi-agency drug interdiction effort. The Sheriff’s Office claimed they were unaware that the communication group was used for purposes other than drug interdiction, including immigration, and have since removed all their members from the group.
Background on Caroline Dias Goncalves
Dias Goncalves is a 19-year-old student at the University of Utah, where she attends on a merit scholarship. According to reports, she and her family came to the United States on a six-month tourist visa and decided not to return to Brazil due to violence they experienced there. They applied for asylum and were granted work permits, limited driver’s licenses, and Social Security numbers. Dias Goncalves has no criminal record.