An Illinois police officer, Radule Bojovic, who had been living in the U.S. illegally for over a decade, was arrested by immigration authorities under Operation Midway Blitz, which targets undocumented immigrants in sanctuary states.

Bojovic, originally from Montenegro, had been working with the Hanover Park Police Department since January, presenting a Work Authorization Card from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that allowed him to carry a firearm on duty, according to local officials.

Federal authorities said Bojovic entered on a tourist visa that expired in 2015, making his continued residence illegal, while the village maintained he had been legally cleared to work and passed full background checks, including FBI and state records.

Bojovic was on administrative leave pending an investigation, and the village stated that if his work authorization is confirmed, he will return to duty, Fox News has reported.

The case has sparked political tensions, with DHS officials criticizing Illinois’ sanctuary policies and Governor J.B. Pritzker denouncing federal enforcement actions as an overreach.