A University of Utah student detained at a Colorado immigration center for nearly two weeks is set to be released soon. On Wednesday, a judge granted bond for 19-year-old Caroline Dias Goncalves, allowing her to begin the process of returning home, according to her lawyer and family.
A family member said it would take about 24 to 48 hours for her to be released. They expressed relief but noted that the situation is far from over. The relative, who requested anonymity due to visa application concerns and fear of retaliation from immigration authorities, confirmed the family’s cautious optimism.
Caroline’s Denver attorney, Jon Hyman, welcomed the bond decision, saying Dias Goncalves would soon reunite with her family and community. He also criticized her initial arrest, saying it should not have happened.
Dias Goncalves was first stopped on June 5 during a trip to Denver. A Mesa County deputy pulled her over near Loma, Colorado, for driving too close to a semi-truck and gave her a warning. Shortly afterward, near Grand Junction, ICE agents stopped and detained her.
Her family tracked her phone to Aurora, where she was taken to a detention center. They heard nothing from her for two days until she managed to call and explain what happened.
Investigations revealed that messages from a Signal chat, used by local deputies for drug interdiction, were shared without permission with ICE agents. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office stated this information was used to locate and arrest Dias Goncalves quickly. They said this violated Colorado law, which prohibits sharing information with federal immigration officials and forbids officers from questioning residency status.
The deputy who first stopped her, Alexander Zwinck, noted she had “a little bit of an accent” and asked where she was from. Dias Goncalves told him she was born in Brazil but has lived in Utah for 12 years. Her family says she came to the U.S. with her parents in 2012 on a tourist visa they overstayed. They feared returning to Brazil due to past violent incidents, including robberies and kidnappings. Three years ago, the family applied for asylum, which is still pending.
Zwinck also asked about her school, and Dias Goncalves said she studies nursing at the University of Utah. The deputy initially mistook her driver’s license for a student ID.
Her detention occurs amid heightened immigration enforcement efforts under the Trump administration, which increased ICE arrest quotas nationwide.
Her friends and family have started a GoFundMe campaign to cover ongoing legal fees. It highlights her commitment to following the law and pursuing education. Over $28,000 had been raised by Wednesday.
Dias Goncalves attends the University of Utah on a merit scholarship from TheDream.US, a group supporting students under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created in 2012 to protect young immigrants from deportation. The Trump administration had attempted to end this program during his presidency.
Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, expressed gratitude for the bond ruling and support for Dias Goncalves as she prepares to return to her family after this difficult time.
Her family is eager to embrace her. A relative said her mother has cried daily since the detention began. While they expect a long legal battle ahead, the family is determined to fight for her right to remain permanently in the United States.
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