Radule Bojovic, originally from Montenegro, was arrested by ICE. He was serving as a police officer in the Hanover Park Police Department, a suburb of Chicago.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Bojovic overstayed his B2 tourist visa. The terms of his visa required him to leave the United States on March 31, 2015. More than a decade later, he remained in the country without proper documentation.
Bojovic’s arrest took place during a targeted law enforcement operation called Operation Midway Blitz.
The Hanover Park Police Department had publicly announced Bojovic’s graduation from the Suburban Police Academy in August, indicating that he was a relatively new officer.
According to records from the Hanover Park Police Department, Bojovic was approved by the Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees in January of this year, enabling him to receive a starting salary of $78,955.
The DHS stated, “Additional records indicate that his 2025 earnings cost taxpayers $205,707, including $9,276 for FICA/Medicare taxes.”
The arrest has ignited strong reactions. Tricia McLaughlin, a top official at the DHS, issued a statement criticizing Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker for allowing illegal immigrants not only to reside in the state but also to illegally access a badge and a firearm.
McLaughlin stated, “Governor J.B. Pritzker not only allows violent illegal aliens to terrorize Illinois communities but also allows them to work as sworn police officers. Radule Bojovic violated our nation’s laws and lived illegally in the United States for 10 years. What kind of police department gives badges and guns to criminal illegal immigrants? It is a serious crime for an alien to possess a firearm. An alleged law enforcement officer who is actively breaking the law.”
She added, “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is restoring law and order. Criminal illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities, especially not in our police forces.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also released a statement, describing the state of Illinois under Pritzker’s leadership as “completely corrupt.”
“@ICEgov arrested an illegal immigrant who was working as a sworn police officer in a Chicago suburb. Radical sanctuary politicians have allowed criminal illegal aliens to infiltrate our school districts, communities, and even police departments. President Trump and I will continue to prioritize the safety of Americans,” she wrote in a post.
In response, Governor Pritzker has argued that the Trump administration’s deportation efforts indicate that the United States is “moving toward an authoritarian regime in Trump’s image.”
“This is a dangerous moment,” Pritzker stated, referring to ICE operations in Chicago. “The President of the United States is sowing chaos in our state. He is targeting his political opponents. I don’t understand why anyone, seeing the situation, would not recognize that he is moving toward an authoritarian regime in his own image.”
The DHS reports that in just over a month since its launch, “Operation Midway Blitz” has resulted in over 1,500 arrests in the Chicago area. This operation demonstrates the importance of enforcing our nation’s immigration laws and ensuring the safety and security of American communities. The incident with Bojovic highlights the potential dangers of sanctuary policies and the need for stricter enforcement of immigration laws, particularly when it comes to positions of public trust and authority.
