U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Radule Bojovic, an illegal immigrant from Montenegro who was serving as a sworn police officer with the Hanover Park Police Department, as part of Operation Midway Blitz. The operation targets illegal immigrants living in Illinois due to the state’s sanctuary policies, a measure that has drawn criticism from federal officials.
Bojovic, who overstayed his tourist visa and remained in the U.S. illegally for over a decade, was recently approved for a position in the department, with an estimated annual salary of $205,707. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the practice, stating that allowing illegal aliens to serve as law enforcement officers undermines the rule of law. She emphasized that the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement is restoring law and order, and that criminal illegal aliens have no place in American communities, especially on police forces.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions between federal immigration authorities and Illinois’ state government. Governor J.B. Pritzker, a progressive Democrat who has frequently criticized President Trump’s immigration policies, has opposed federal immigration enforcement operations in the state, describing them as unconstitutional and a threat to local autonomy. Pritzker recently sued the Trump administration to block National Guard action in Illinois and has feuded with Trump over his threats to deploy ICE agents to Chicago.
Pritzker accused the federal government of engaging in an ‘unconstitutional invasion’ of Illinois, claiming that ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are terrorizing communities with aggressive tactics such as tear gas and rubber bullets. He alleged that these federal agents are disguised as military personnel, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among residents. These accusations have drawn sharp rebukes from federal officials, who have condemned Pritzker’s rhetoric as dangerous and misleading.
The operation that led to Bojovic’s arrest, known as Operation Midway Blitz, was launched in honor of Katie Abraham, a victim of a hit-and-run crash caused by a criminal illegal alien. The case has underscored the ongoing debate over the role of illegal immigrants in American society and the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies to uphold the law. As the controversy unfolds, it remains a focal point in the broader national discussion on immigration policy, with significant implications for the relationship between state and federal authorities.