The Hanover Park Police Department rehired an illegal immigrant that been previously arrested by ICE after the suspect had overstayed his tourist visa.
Originally from Montenegro, Radule Bojovic, 25, began working for the Hanover Park PD in 2024. His B-2 visa expired, requiring him to leave the United States by March 31, 2015, True North reports.
He was detained by ICE in October 2025 and was released on a $2,500 bond. Hanover Park officials reinstated him and are giving him back pay for his “leave.”
“Given that his bond was not contested and he remains authorized to work by the federal government, the Hanover Police Department determined that he may return to work,” they said in a statement. “His first shift back since his detention took place yesterday. The Village and Hanover Park will provide Officer Bojovic back pay for the time he was on leave.”
Hanover PD also noted that a 2024 ATF memo allowed Bojovic to carry a firearm, despite his immigration status.
They added, “Before hiring Officer Bojovic, the Village confirmed that the federal government legally authorized him to work in the United States. (RELATED: ‘I Can’t Keep Everybody in Jail’: Judge’s Decision Ends in CTA Train Fire Attack)
At the time of his hire, Officer Bojovic presented the Village with a Work Authorization Card, which was issued by the federal government’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The card was valid and recently renewed.”
Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) defended the move, saying, “He was legally authorized to work in the United States. He had a work permit from DHS.”
The decision has been met with pushback. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the move, targeting the Illinois Democratic governor for the policy.
“Gov. Pritzker doesn’t just allow violent illegal aliens to terrorize Illinois communities,” she said, according to Newsmax. “He allows illegal aliens to work as sworn police officers. It’s a felony for an alien to even possess a firearm, yet this so-called law enforcement officer was breaking the law every day.”
Public records indicate that Bojovic became eligible for the Hanover PD Pension in January 2025.
Townhall Media notes that Bojovic was “eligible to receive a starting salary of $78,955.70 at the time of his hiring.” This brings his 2025 total earnings to over $200,000.
Hanover Park is located in the Cook and DuPage counties in Illinois. (RELATED: Derek Chauvin Files New Petition Claiming Constitutional Violations in George Floyd Trial)