ICE Arrests Suburban Chicago Officer Alleged Illegal Immigrant

(ROLLING MEADOWS, ILLINOIS) Federal immigration agents on Thursday morning arrested Radule Bojovic, 25, a police officer with the Hanover Park Police Department, during a targeted sweep in the northwest suburbs. The arrest came amid Operation Midway Blitz, a multi-agency enforcement push, and set off an immediate clash between local officials and the Department of Homeland Security over whether Bojovic was legally allowed to live and work in the United States.

According to federal statements, Bojovic is a native of Montenegro who entered the country on a tourist visa that expired on March 31, 2015. DHS claims he remained in the country for more than ten years after that expiration. Agents detained him in Rolling Meadows, where he showed his police employee identification and explained he carried no weapon because he was only cleared to carry a firearm while on duty.

ICE officials say the arrest unfolded as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a broader operation that has placed Chicago-area policing and immigration enforcement under a harsh spotlight. Federal records cited by DHS note Bojovic was approved by a pension fund board in January 2025 and earned more than $200,000 in taxpayer-funded pay and benefits. He had completed the suburban law enforcement academy in August 2025 and was set to be sworn in at a village board meeting on the same day he was arrested, October 16, 2025.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem amplified the federal stance on social media, writing that “ICE arrested an illegal alien working as a sworn police officer in Chicago suburb,” and blaming “radical sanctuary politicians” for allowing what she described as criminal noncitizens to “infiltrate” communities and even police ranks. DHS also criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, claiming the state “allows illegal aliens to work as sworn police officers.”

Village response and evidence presented

Village leaders in Hanover Park responded with a firm denial, saying the hire met all federal and state requirements. They said they verified Bojovic’s identity, ran background checks, and confirmed work permission before his start date in January 2025.

Village officials presented several points:

• Work Authorization
  • The village says Bojovic showed a valid federal Work Authorization Card from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and that it had been renewed around the time of hire.
  • Officials stress they confirmed with federal systems that he was allowed to work in the United States.
• Background Checks
  • Village officials say both FBI and Illinois State Police background checks came back clean.
  • Village Board President Rodney Craig said, “If Officer Bojovic did not hold federal work authorization, he would not have been hired.”
• Firearm Clearance
  • Citing a January 5, 2024 memorandum from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the village says Bojovic’s immigration status allowed him to carry a duty firearm while on shift.

Village officials added that they have not received any notice from any federal or state agency that Bojovic’s work authorization was ever revoked. They placed him on administrative leave pending the outcome of his immigration case and say he will return to full duty if he’s allowed to remain in the United States and remains legally cleared to work.

At the Thursday evening board meeting—where his swearing-in had been scheduled—President Craig urged the community to keep an open mind and wait for verified facts. Residents who packed the room were split between those who support Bojovic and those who questioned his hiring in light of the DHS allegations.

Legal questions and next steps

Bojovic is being held at the Clay County Justice Center in Brazil, Indiana. The timeline of his case may depend on the speed of immigration court scheduling and any bond hearings, motions, or appeals.

While DHS alleges a long-term overstay, Hanover Park says it relied on federal work authorization and detailed vetting. That creates a direct conflict between two layers of government over what the records show and how they should be read.

Key procedural and legal points to watch:

1. Contents of Bojovic’s federal immigration file and any documentary evidence of status or overstay.
2. Scheduling and outcomes of immigration court hearings, including potential bond hearings and appeals.
3. Any formal notices from federal or state agencies to Hanover Park regarding revocation of authorization.

At least three facts are clear and uncontested in the public record:
– He was hired in January 2025, after the village says it checked federal work authorization and passed him through state and federal background screens.
– He completed the academy in August 2025 and was set for a formal swearing-in on October 16, 2025.
– He was arrested the same day during Operation Midway Blitz and is now held in Indiana while proceedings advance.

Broader implications and enforcement context

The arrest lands amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement in the Chicago area. A federal judge recently ordered Chicago ICE Field Office Director Russell Hot to appear in court next week over alleged violations of a temporary restraining order tied to Operation Midway Blitz. That order follows a confrontation between residents and federal agents on the city’s Southeast Side on October 14, 2025.

The court has directed all agents assigned to the ongoing operation—including ICE and Customs and Border Protection personnel who have body cameras—to wear them and keep them on during law enforcement activities. This judicial oversight underscores the sensitivity of the operation and the public interest in how enforcement is conducted.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the standoff over Bojovic’s status reflects a broader pattern in which local hiring decisions collide with federal enforcement claims. Frequently, a worker presents documentation that appears valid to village human resources but later becomes disputed by DHS. Hanover Park’s statement highlights that gap—relying on federal authorization systems—while DHS presses a separate position based on entry and overstay records.

Local police departments and municipalities may face several risks when these conflicts arise:

• Loss of public trust if a sworn officer’s status is later questioned
• Administrative and legal complications for departments that relied on federal databases
• Tension between local governance and federal enforcement priorities

In the near term, Hanover Park says it will follow the courts and federal notices. The village’s public statements emphasize compliance, record checks, and documented authorization. DHS, for its part, is pressing the message that overstays and unauthorized work will be met with enforcement—even when the person is embedded in local government.

The court’s demand for body cameras during Operation Midway Blitz suggests the judiciary is watching how enforcement unfolds as closely as who is being arrested.

Where to find more information

Federal readers seeking background on immigration enforcement operations can consult official resources from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including Enforcement and Removal Operations guidance available here: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations.