ICE Arrests Second Police Officer in Three Months for Visa Violations

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested another police officer in the United States for being in the country illegally, raising significant concerns about the effectiveness of the vetting system. This incident marks the second arrest of a police officer for visa violations within three months, following a similar case in Maine.

On July 25, 2023, Jon Luke Evans, a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in Maine, was apprehended after attempting to purchase a firearm while unlawfully residing in the U.S. ICE reported that Evans, originally from Jamaica, entered the country legally on September 24, 2023, but overstayed his visa, which was set to expire on October 1, 2023. His arrest occurred when he informed gun shop employees that he was a police officer, triggering an alert to agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), who coordinated with ICE to make the arrest.

In a related case, Radule Bojovic, a police officer with the Hanover Park Police Department in suburban Chicago, was arrested during Operation Midway Blitz, which targets illegal immigrants in Illinois. Bojovic, a native of Montenegro, entered the U.S. on a tourist visa that required him to leave by March 31, 2015. Over a decade later, he remained in the country illegally. At the time of his arrest, Bojovic was earning a starting salary of approximately $78,955 and had been approved by the Pension Fund Board of Trustees in January 2025.

Both police departments involved have defended their hiring practices, asserting that they adhered to all legal requirements. Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard stated that her department utilized the federal E-Verify system to confirm Evans’ employment eligibility. She expressed distress over the situation, indicating that they were blindsided by the arrest and only learned of it through a press release.

“Our department and our community relied on the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to ensure we were meeting our obligations,” said Chief Chard. “We are distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government.”

Similarly, officials in Hanover Park issued a statement defending their processes after Bojovic’s arrest. They noted that he provided a valid work authorization card at the time of hiring and successfully passed both state and federal background checks. The department has placed Bojovic on administrative leave while his immigration case is pending, but officials have not admitted any fault, insisting that standard vetting protocols were followed.

These back-to-back arrests underscore ongoing concerns about the vetting of individuals in law enforcement positions, particularly in jurisdictions identified as sanctuary areas, such as Old Orchard Beach and Hanover Park. Both communities have been noted for their reluctance to comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts, leading to heightened scrutiny of their hiring practices.

As federal authorities continue to crack down on illegal immigration, these incidents raise questions about the effectiveness of current systems designed to vet individuals in positions of authority. ICE has not commented further on these incidents, but the agency’s actions reflect a broader initiative to remove individuals unlawfully residing in the country from public-facing roles.

The implications of these arrests could prompt a review of hiring practices in law enforcement agencies across the country, emphasizing the need for rigorous vetting to ensure that all officers meet legal residency requirements.