Federal immigration agents have arrested a Hanover Park police officer they claim overstayed a tourism visa, but village officials say the arrest contradicts the information they had received from the federal government earlier this year.
Radule Bojovic, a native of Montenegro, was “encountered during a targeted enforcement action,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He remained in immigration detention as of late Thursday in the Clay County Justice Center in Indiana, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detainee locator.
According to the Village of Hanover Park, Bojovic presented a valid and recently renewed work authorization card when he was hired back in January. The department also conducted a full background check with Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“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, ” the village said in a statement. “Clearly, without that authorization, the Village would not have hired him.”
Federal immigration officials say Bojovic overstayed a tourism visa that they say expired in March 2015. In a statement, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Bojovic of, “living ILLEGALLY in the United States for 10 years,” and questioned the why the police department hired him.
But village officials say federal officials signed off on a background check before Bojovic was hired. The village said it also confirmed, based on a memorandum issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, that Bojovic’s immigration status allowed him to carry a weapon while on duty.
Sanctuary-state Illinois, under @GovPritzker, is completely corrupt.@ICEgov arrested an illegal alien working as a sworn POLICE OFFICER in a Chicago suburb.
Radical sanctuary politicians have allowed criminal illegal aliens to infiltrate our school districts, communities, and…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) October 16, 2025
The Hanover Park Police Department posted a photo in August congratulating Bojovic on graduating from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy.
According to the post, Bojovic was beginning 15 weeks of intensive training “as he continues preparing to serve the Hanover Park community.”
Bojovic is just one of the latest people arrested in “Operation Midway Blitz,” President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign that launched in the Chicago area in September. DHS said it’s arrested over 1,500 people in Illinois since the start of the campaign.
Officials also claim to be targeting those convicted of serious crimes, “the worst of the worst.” But they’ve released few details on those arrested, making it difficult to independently verify these claims.
In the case of this officer, officials do not mention any criminal history.
Bojovic has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of his immigration proceedings, according to the village. If he is allowed to stay in the county, with work authorization, he’ll be returned to full duty status.