The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a police officer from Hanover Park in the state of Illinois on Thursday morning, accusing him of being in the country illegally. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials claim the individual is Radule Bojović, an immigrant from Montenegro who remained in the US after his tourist visa expired back in 2015.
Bojović was supposed to be formally installed as a police officer that evening at the village board meeting, but he was arrested beforehand.
The Hanover Park Police stated that Bojović was employed in compliance with all federal and state laws, and that he had a valid work permit issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which was recently renewed, ABC7Chicago reports.
This statement contradicts the claims of the Department of Homeland Security, which announced that Bojović “has been illegally residing in the US for more than 10 years.” The DHS stated that Bojović was apprehended during “Operation Midway Blitz” in the greater Chicago area.
The DHS statement reads:
“Governor J.B. Pritzker not only allows violent illegal immigrants to terrorize Illinois communities, but he also allows them to work as sworn police officers. Radule Bojović has violated our country’s laws and has lived illegally in the US for ten years.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem commented on social media that “radical politicians from sanctuary cities have allowed criminal illegal immigrants to enter schools, communities, and even police departments.”
On the other hand, Hanover Park authorities issued a statement saying that all necessary FBI and Illinois State Police checks were conducted, which did not reveal any criminal record.
“Had Bojović not had federal work authorization, he would not have been hired,” said Village Board President Rodney Craig, urging citizens “not to judge before the facts are reviewed.” It is also added that the village did not receive any notification that Bojović’s work permit had been revoked, and that a Department of Justice memorandum confirmed that his immigration status permits him to carry a firearm on duty.
Radule Bojović is currently in custody in Clay County in the state of Indiana.
He has been placed on administrative leave until the completion of the immigration proceedings. If he is allowed to remain in the US and retains the right to work, he will be reinstated to the Hanover Park Police Department.
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Source: Nova.rs; Photo: Mugshots zone