ICE arrests undocumented immigrant serving as police officer in suburban Chicago

(WTVO) — Federal immigration authorities have arrested Radule Bojovic, a Montenegrin national who had been serving as a sworn police officer in Hanover Park, Illinois, despite being an undocumented resident for more than 10 years.

The arrest was part of Operation Midway Blitz, a federal crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants in Illinois.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Bojovic entered the U.S. on a tourist visa that expired in March 2015. Despite his undocumented status, he was hired by the Hanover Park Police Department, graduated from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, and was approved for a police pension in January 2025. His reported earnings for the year totaled over $205,000, including salary and benefits, according to reports.

Fox News reports that Bojovic’s arrest has reignited tensions between federal authorities and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the situation, saying, “What kind of police department gives criminal illegal aliens badges and guns?”

She added that it is a felony for undocumented immigrants to possess firearms, let alone serve in law enforcement. 

Pritzker has sued the Trump administration to block National Guard deployments in Illinois and has accused federal agents of “terrorizing communities” with aggressive tactics.

“It feels that way already — masked federal agents from ICE and CBP are on the ground, terrorizing our communities with tear gas and rubber bullets,” Pritzker said Thursday.

Operation Midway Blitz was launched in memory of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash involving an undocumented immigrant. The initiative has led to hundreds of arrests across the state, with federal officials vowing to restore law and order.