Concern Raised Over Police Officers’ Immigration Status in Illinois
In a troubling revelation, a police officer from the Chicago suburbs was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), further exposing flaws within the nation’s immigration vetting system. This incident marks the second time in just three months that an armed officer has been found to be residing in the U.S. illegally.
Back on July 25, ICE reported that John Luke Evans, a Jamaican national, was a reserve officer for the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in Maine. He was apprehended for attempting to illegally purchase a firearm. The Department of Homeland Security noted that Old Orchard Beach is classified as a sanctuary jurisdiction, which typically does not comply with federal immigration enforcement actions.
More recently, federal authorities announced the arrest of Radul Bojovic, a former officer from the Hanover Park Police Department in Illinois, during a crackdown on illegal immigrants living in the state, also labeled a sanctuary area. His arrest coincides with that of Evans, making for a remarkable series of events occurring in similar contexts.
Both of these arrests highlight an ongoing push from the Trump administration to remove unauthorized immigrants, giving weight to claims of inadequate screening processes employed by these departments.
ICE officials detailed that both officers entered the U.S. legally but subsequently overstayed their visas. Evans, for instance, arrived in the United States at Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, yet did not depart as scheduled on October 1. His illegal gun purchase attempt raised red flags for ATF agents, who connected with ICE to take action.
Bojovic, on the other hand, entered the U.S. on a tourist visa that required him to leave by March 31, 2015. Over a decade later, he remained in the U.S. unlawfully while holding a position in the police department, even being approved for a salary of $78,955 as a director in January 2025.
In light of these arrests, both involved police departments defended their hiring practices. Ellis Chard, the chief of police in Old Orchard Beach, claimed that all legal procedures were followed when hiring Evans, including using the federal government’s E-Verify system to validate employment eligibility. Chard expressed deep concern, stating the situation was “extremely alarming,” calling it a potential misstep by federal authorities rather than a failure on their part.
Meanwhile, officials from Hanover Park echoed similar sentiments, asserting that Bojovic had presented a valid work authorization card during the hiring process, passing requisite background checks. His status is currently under review, but the department maintains that it adhered to standard vetting protocols.
As questions linger about the effectiveness of the vetting procedures that allowed these officers to be hired, the situation highlights not only the complexities and challenges of immigration enforcement but also the urgent need for improved systems to prevent such occurrences from happening in the future.
