An immigration judge granted a $2,500 bond to Radule Bojovic, a 25-year-old Hanover Park, Ill., police officer from Montenegro who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month over an alleged visa overstay. He was released from custody on Oct. 31 while his immigration case continues.
Radule Bojovic was arrested by ICE on Oct. 15 and released after an immigration judge granted bond on Oct. 29; ICE confirmed he left custody on Oct. 31. His case remains pending. (cbsnews.com)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said Bojovic overstayed a B-2 tourist visa that expired on March 31, 2015, and criticized his employment as a sworn officer in suburban Hanover Park, arguing it was illegal for him to possess a firearm. Hanover Park officials, however, maintain he was hired in January 2025 "in full compliance with federal and state law" and had valid, recently renewed federal work authorization. (cbsnews.com)
The Hanover Park Police Department said Bojovic presented a Work Authorization Card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, passed FBI and Illinois State Police background checks, and—based on a Jan. 5, 2024 memorandum from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—was permitted to carry a firearm while on duty. Independent publication of that ATF memo has not been located; the claim is attributed to the village’s statement reported by local outlets. (cbsnews.com)
The case comes amid the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” a DHS/ICE enforcement surge launched in Illinois on Sept. 8 targeting noncitizens with criminal histories. DHS and news outlets have reported hundreds of arrests since the operation began. (dhs.gov)
Tensions around the effort escalated last weekend in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. DHS said a man driving a black Jeep fired shots at Border Patrol agents during an enforcement action; no injuries were reported. Chicago police responded to reports of gunfire. Two days later, DHS said an undocumented man from Mexico was arrested in connection with the incident, but authorities had not publicly identified him or confirmed whether he was the shooter. (nbcchicago.com)
In public statements about the broader operation, DHS officials have linked their actions to criticism of Illinois and Chicago “sanctuary” policies. “No city is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens,” Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said when announcing Operation Midway Blitz in September. (dhs.gov)
