CHICAGO, IL – A suburban police officer was arrested by federal immigration authorities this week after investigators discovered he had overstayed his U.S. visa by more than a decade.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took Radule Bojovic, a native of Montenegro and officer with the Hanover Park Police Department, into custody during an Oct. 15 enforcement operation in Rolling Meadows.
According to ICE officials, Bojovic entered the United States on a B-2 visitor visa that required him to depart by March 31, 2015. He allegedly remained in the country unlawfully for more than 10 years before his recent appointment as a police officer.
Federal agents say firearm possession violated law
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago Field Office Director Sam Olson said Bojovic’s employment as a law enforcement officer violated federal restrictions that prohibit undocumented individuals from possessing firearms. “Illegal aliens are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms — full stop,” Olson said, noting that this was the second known case in recent months of a local police department hiring an undocumented officer.
During the arrest, Bojovic reportedly provided officers with his Hanover Park Police Department identification card and confirmed he carried a firearm only while on duty.
Investigation highlights tension between state and federal policy
The arrest has renewed friction between federal immigration authorities and Illinois officials, as ICE criticized what it described as state and local policies that fail to cooperate with immigration enforcement. The agency said such practices jeopardize community safety and undermine federal law.
Hanover Park officials have not released a statement regarding Bojovic’s employment status or how his immigration status went undetected during the hiring process.
Ongoing review of local hiring practices
ICE said it is continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the case as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a targeted enforcement initiative across the Midwest.
Bojovic remains in federal custody pending immigration proceedings.