Officer Arrested for Illegal Immigration Status
The Department of Homeland Security reported on Thursday that an Illinois police officer, who is in the United States illegally, has been arrested.
Radul Bojovic, originally from Montenegro, had been serving as a sworn officer with the Hanover Park Police Department. His arrest was part of Operation Midway Blitz, a federal initiative aimed at illegal immigrants in Illinois due to the state’s sanctuary policy.
Fox News Digital reached out to both the police department and the office of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, known for his criticism of President Donald Trump’s immigration approach.
“J.B. Pritzker is not only permitting violent illegal aliens to instill fear in Illinois communities, but he also allows illegal aliens to serve as sworn officers,” commented Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary of homeland security. “Radul Bojovic has broken our laws and lived unlawfully in the U.S. for ten years. It raises questions about what kind of police department gives a criminal, who is also illegal, a badge and a firearm.”
McLaughlin further noted, “Even a foreign national possessing a firearm is a felony. It’s alarming that law enforcement officers are actively breaking the law. Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is working towards restoring law and order. Illegal immigrants who engage in criminal activities should not be part of our police force.”
In a Facebook post from August 22, the Hanover Park Police Department celebrated Bojovic’s graduation from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy. The post stated that he would begin a rigorous 15-week field training program to prepare him to serve the Hanover Park community.
According to federal officials, Bojovic was in the U.S. on a tourist visa that required him to leave by March 31, 2015. However, more than a decade later, he remained in the country unlawfully.
Bojovic received approval from the pension fund board in January 2025, making him eligible for a starting salary of nearly $79,000. Records indicate his income for 2025 exceeded $205,000, which included taxes.
The Trump administration initiated Operation Midway Blitz as a response to the death of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk-driving accident in Illinois by Julio Cucurbor, an illegal immigrant.
Pritzker has recently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to prevent National Guard operations in Illinois, expressing ongoing conflicts with Trump’s threats to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Chicago.
“President Trump has indicated an intention to confront Chicago, using it as a testing ground, and is dispatching military forces contrary to community wishes,” Pritzker stated on Thursday. “It’s understandable that people believe the military might already be patrolling our streets.” He added that ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents appear to be operating in the community with tactics that include tear gas and rubber bullets, often indistinguishable from military personnel.
