On Thursday, Real America’s Voice correspondent Ben Bergquam reported on a troubling situation in Hanover Park, Illinois. Radule Bojovic, an illegal alien, was arrested by ICE while serving as a police officer. This incident raises serious questions about how local police departments are vetting their recruits and adhering to federal immigration laws.
ICE Chicago confirmed that Bojovic had been in the country illegally for over ten years after overstaying his B-2 visitor visa, which expired in March 2015. Sam Olson, the director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Chicago, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “Illegal aliens are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms—full stop,” he stated. Olson pointed out that this was not an isolated case; it marked the second instance in recent months of a police department hiring an illegal alien and unlawfully issuing him a firearm while on duty.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed concern over the implications of such actions by police departments. “What kind of police department gives criminal illegal aliens badges and guns?” she questioned. The law is clear: it is a felony for noncitizens to possess firearms. Yet here was a law enforcement officer actively violating that law.
Bojovic, who had started his position before President Trump took office, claimed he was authorized to carry a firearm while on duty. This assertion brings attention to the police department’s hiring practices. An ICE agent relayed that to let noncitizens serve, the police department only requires work authorization. However, even with that in mind, there was a blatant disregard for federal statutes regarding immigration status.
The ICE agent remarked, “That’s a federal statute, so whether or not that came up or they missed it or whatever,” adding a note of caution about the implications of these oversights. The department’s failure to recognize that Bojovic was a visa overstay and should not have been employed raises alarms about the broader enforcement of immigration laws.
This incident is indicative of a larger issue within certain jurisdictions that seem to ignore federal guidelines. The actions of local governments, like that of Hanover Park, could potentially jeopardize community safety. As Olson stated, it is alarming how local jurisdictions continue to disregard federal law.
The situation also reflects ongoing tensions between state and federal law regarding immigration and law enforcement. Governor JB Pritzker’s administration has faced criticism for not adhering to federal laws, raising concerns about the welfare of residents in Illinois.
The implications of hiring illegal aliens as police officers point to significant risks. Communities rely on their law enforcement to uphold the law, and when those officers themselves violate fundamental legal guidelines, it undermines public trust.
Ben Bergquam’s report underscores the urgent need for clarity in hiring practices for police departments and the consequences of overlooking immigration status. This case serves as a reminder of the potential gaps in enforcement when local policies clash with federal laws and put communities at risk.
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