Latino Advocacy Group Urges Investigation Into Garfield County Sheriff's Office

Voces Unidas de las Montañas alleges civil rights violations in collaboration with ICE

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Latino advocacy organization Voces Unidas de las Montañas has recorded numerous civil rights complaints against the Garfield County Sheriff's Office over the past year. The group alleges that the sheriff's office has been allowing ICE agents to enter the county jail and take individuals into custody before they are released, violating state laws that restrict local law enforcement's collaboration with federal immigration authorities. Voces Unidas is now urging the Colorado Attorney General to investigate the sheriff's office for these alleged civil rights violations.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between local law enforcement and immigrant communities, as well as the complex legal landscape around immigration enforcement. The allegations against the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, if true, could severely undermine trust between law enforcement and Latino residents, potentially discouraging people from reporting crimes or cooperating with authorities. The outcome of the potential investigation could have significant implications for how local police interact with federal immigration agencies across Colorado.

The details

According to Voces Unidas, the group has documented at least 9 out of 10 instances where individuals were 'released' from the Garfield County Jail only to be immediately taken into custody by ICE agents. The advocacy organization believes this violates state laws that prohibit local jails from delaying an inmate's release to give ICE an opportunity to apprehend them, as well as laws barring state and local law enforcement from arresting or holding someone solely based on a federal immigration detainer. One case detailed by Voces Unidas involves a 60-year-old man, Luis Armando Rivas Martinez, who was arrested in a Walmart parking lot by a Garfield County deputy and a SPEAR (Special Problem Enforcement and Response) officer, who then turned him over to federal immigration authorities despite no apparent warrant.

  • Over the past year, Voces Unidas has recorded a series of civil rights complaints against the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.
  • In June 2025, Luis Armando Rivas Martinez was arrested in a Walmart parking lot in Glenwood Springs.

The players

Voces Unidas de las Montañas

A Latino advocacy organization that has recorded numerous civil rights complaints against the Garfield County Sheriff's Office over the past year.

Alex Sánchez

The president and CEO of Voces Unidas, who believes the sheriff's office's actions are inconsistent with state law.

Garfield County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency that Voces Unidas alleges has been collaborating with ICE agents to detain individuals in violation of state laws.

Phil Weiser

The Colorado Attorney General, whom Voces Unidas is urging to investigate the Garfield County Sheriff's Office for possible civil rights violations.

Luis Armando Rivas Martinez

A 60-year-old man who was arrested in a Walmart parking lot by Garfield County deputies and then turned over to federal immigration authorities, despite no apparent warrant.

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What they’re saying

“We have documented, based on testimony from impacted families and individuals [and] public records, that ICE agents are allowed to come into the jail. We don't know what happens inside that jail, but certainly ICE agents are in secure jail facilities and individuals are never allowed to be free … We believe that's inconsistent with state law.”

— Alex Sánchez, President and CEO of Voces Unidas (The Sopris Sun)

“He had not committed any federal crimes. [The] two deputies were acting as ICE agents, supporting and assisting civil ICE enforcement, which, in Colorado, we believe is against the law.”

— Alex Sánchez, President and CEO of Voces Unidas (The Sopris Sun)

“Unfortunately, Garfield County government and [the] Garfield County sheriff and his office have undermined decades and decades of goodwill and work as a community. And now because of their actions members of my community may not call 911, may not respond to the calls of district attorneys … may not report domestic violence. Certainly, any encounter we have with the Garfield County Sheriff's Office will be treated as potentially hostile. That's the consequence that this sheriff cannot see.”

— Alex Sánchez, President and CEO of Voces Unidas (The Sopris Sun)

What’s next

The Colorado Attorney General's Office has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, but if the allegations against the Garfield County Sheriff's Office are substantiated, it could lead to significant changes in how local law enforcement interacts with federal immigration authorities across the state.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between local law enforcement, immigrant communities, and federal immigration agencies. The potential civil rights violations alleged against the Garfield County Sheriff's Office underscore the need for clear guidelines and oversight to ensure that local police are not overstepping their bounds and undermining community trust, especially in vulnerable populations.