ICE arrests police officer in Chicago suburb and accuses him of being in US illegally

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ice-arrests-chicago-area-cop-legally-working-us-town-says-2025-10-17/

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Radule Bojovic, who was born in Montenegro, was arrested "during a targeted enforcement action," according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security. DHS said Bojovic was in the country illegally after overstaying a B2 tourist visa more than 10 years ago. But a statement from the Village of Hanover Park later on Thursday said its police department received a work authorization card for Bojovic issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which had recently been renewed. The Village also said Bojovic had successfully completed a background check with the FBI and the Illinois State Police.​

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"The bottom line is that all information we received from the federal government indicated that Officer Bojovic is legally authorized to work in the United States as a police officer. Clearly, without that authorization, the Village would not have hired him," the statement said. Bojovic was being held in immigration detention at the Clay County Justice Center in Brazil, Indiana, on Friday morning, according to ICE's online detainee locator. The Village's statement said Bojovic had been placed on administrative leave during his immigration proceedings and that he would return to duty if he were allowed to remain legally in the U.S. Since the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump launched its federal immigration enforcement blitz in the Chicago area last month, about 1,500 people have been arrested, according to DHS. The use of tear gas and other chemical munitions by federal immigration agents to disperse crowds during arrests has increasingly come under scrutiny by civic leaders and residents. Some, including Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have also questioned the veracity of statements issued by the DHS about the incidents.​

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