Overview

• The Justice Department added Attorney General Phil Weiser’s July 22 suit against Mesa County Deputy Alexander Zwinck to its May complaint challenging Colorado and Denver sanctuary policies.
• Weiser’s civil case remains pending in state court and seeks to bar Zwinck from sharing identifying information with federal immigration authorities.
• Sheriff Todd Rowell described the AG’s selective enforcement as “demoralizing” and accused him of wielding sanctuary statutes for maximum political effect.
• The underlying incident dates to a June 5 traffic stop where Zwinck shared a Brazilian national’s expired visa details via a multiagency Signal chat, leading to a nursing student’s two-week ICE detention.
• The development reflects the DOJ’s broader effort to contest state sanctuary measures under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.