A Chicago-area police officer, Radule Bojovic, has been arrested by ICE agents on charges of being in the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The arrest comes as part of a larger immigration enforcement operation in Illinois, known as 'Operation Midway Blitz'.
Bojovic, a native of Montenegro, was working as a sworn officer for the Hanover Park Police Department. He overstayed his tourist visa for a decade, and was required to leave the U.S. in March 2015. It's a felony for anyone in the U.S. illegally to carry a firearm, and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the police department for allowing an illegal alien to work as a sworn officer.
The officer's acceptance into the Hanover Park Police Pension Fund in January, with a starting salary of nearly $79,000, and his graduation from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy in August, have raised questions about the department's hiring practices. The DHS statement also questioned the integrity of the police department, asking how an illegal alien could be given a badge and a gun.
The arrest has sparked debate, with some arguing that sanctuary policies are to blame for allowing criminal illegal aliens to infiltrate communities and police departments. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has pledged to prioritize the safety of Americans, suggesting a continuation of strict immigration enforcement measures.
