Brazilian student detained 15 days after traffic stop, now suing ICE
Jun 20, 2025·Location: Grand Junction, CO
Country of origin: Brazil

Caroline Dias Goncalves, a 19-year-old University of Utah nursing student from Brazil, was detained by ICE on June 5, 2025, following a traffic stop by a Mesa County Sheriff's deputy on Interstate 70 near Fruita, Colorado. The deputy shared information about her in a group chat used for drug interdiction efforts, which ICE agents then used to target her for immigration enforcement. Goncalves, who immigrated to the U.S. at age 7 and has a pending asylum application, was held at an ICE facility in Aurora, Colorado for 15 days, where she reported receiving poor quality food and confusing schedules, and observed differential treatment based on English proficiency. She was released on bond on June 20, 2025, and became a named plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against ICE leadership.
Timeline
Sources
- Utah college student detained by ICE after a brief traffic stop to be released on bond
NBC News·Jun 18, 2025·archived copy
- Dreamer who spent 15 days in ICE detention says she was 'scared and felt alone'
NBC News·Jun 24, 2025·archived copy
NBC News·Jun 24, 2025·archived copy
Yahoo News·Jun 24, 2025·archived copy
- Feds used group chat with Colorado sheriff to target Utah student for immigration arrest, officials say
Denver Post·Jun 17, 2025·archived copy
preprod.denverpost.com·Jun 17, 2025·archived copy
- Brazilian Student Detained By ICE Details Her Ordeal While In Custody: 'I Won't Forget This'
latintimes.com·Jun 26, 2025·archived copy
- ICE arrest of student after traffic stop spotlights Colorado’s non-cooperation policy
- Utah student arrested in Colorado is released, describes ‘nightmare’ ICE detention
Denver Post·Jun 23, 2025·archived copy
- University of Utah student arrested by ICE says 15 days in detention were ‘hardest of my life’
- 'I was scared': Utah student releases statement, describes ICE detention
deseret.com·Jun 24, 2025·archived copy
- WCNC
- ACLU leads lawsuit against 'indiscriminate' ICE arrests in Colorado
KUNC·Oct 16, 2025·archived copy
- ACLU, Colorado law firms sue ICE to stop “indiscriminate” arrests and detentions
KUNC·Oct 13, 2025·archived copy
- ACLU sues Trump administration over ICE arrests in Colorado
- ACLU, Colorado law firms sue ICE to stop ‘indiscriminate’ arrests and detentions
durangoherald.com·Oct 10, 2025·archived copy
- EXCLUSIVE: 2,800 Individual Journeys Through ICE Hold Rooms, Mapped
- U of U student issues statement about Colorado traffic stop, detention in ICE facility
KUTV·Jun 23, 2025·archived copy
More incidents in Colorado
- Colorado AG Sues to Halt 1,200-Bed Hudson ICE Center, Citing Town's SizeSep 29, 2026 · Hudson, CO
- Colorado city sues ICE facility's landlord over detentions after permit revokedSep 25, 2026 · Glenwood Springs, CO
- Honduran man deported to Central African Republic ordered returned after due process violationSep 25, 2026 · CO
- Migrant children and other immigrants face surging third-country deportationsSep 19, 2026 · Denver, CO
- Construction worker deported to Honduras after being followed by ICE in ColoradoSep 11, 2026 · Denver, CO
- Immigrant detained under expedited removal statute wins court-ordered bond hearingAug 31, 2026 · Aurora, CO