Randros 
In a case that has ignited debate over immigration enforcement and employment verification systems, reserve police officer Jon Luke Evans, a 24-year-old Jamaican national, has agreed to voluntarily leave the United States following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Evans was detained on July 25, 2025, for overstaying his visa and attempting to unlawfully purchase a firearm, prompting questions about how he was hired by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department despite his immigration status.
The agreement for voluntary departure, granted by a judge, allows Evans to leave the country at his own expense to avoid formal deportation proceedings.
An ICE representative confirmed he could depart as early as August 18, 2025.
This resolution comes amid a heated dispute between local officials and federal authorities, exposing potential vulnerabilities in systems like E-Verify.
Evans entered the U.S. legally on September 24, 2023, via Miami International Airport on a B-2 tourist visa, which required him to leave by October 1, 2023.
He failed to depart, overstaying his visa and remaining in the country unlawfully.
Despite this, he was hired as a reserve officer by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in May 2025.
This was after passing a background check and receiving confirmation of work eligibility through the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system, which indicated an Employment Authorization Document valid until March 2030.
ICE arrested Evans in Biddeford, Maine, during an operation by the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston field office.
The arrest was triggered when Evans attempted to purchase a firearm as part of his job duties, alerting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) during a background check.
Federal authorities stated that Evans not only violated immigration laws but also illegally tried to acquire a gun while employed as a law enforcement officer.
Patricia Hyde, acting field office director for ICE’s ERO in Boston, condemned the situation in a statement: “Jon Luke Evans not only broke U.S. immigration law, but he also illegally attempted to purchase a firearm.
Shockingly, Evans was employed as a local law enforcement officer.
The fact that a police department would hire an illegal alien and unlawfully issue him a firearm while on duty would be comical if it weren’t so tragic.”
She added, “We have a police department that was knowingly breaking the very law they are charged with enforcing in order to employ an illegal alien.
ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from our New England communities.”
Dispute Between Local Officials and ICE
The arrest has sparked a public feud between Old Orchard Beach officials and ICE.
Police Chief Elise Chard asserted that the department was assured by federal authorities that Evans was legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The town used E-Verify and the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form prior to his hiring, receiving clearance from the system.
In response, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin accused the town of “reckless reliance” on E-Verify, an online tool designed to confirm employees’ legal work status.
Chard reiterated the town’s commitment to compliance: “The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment.
We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility.”
Maine is one of about a dozen states that permit non-citizens with work permits to serve in law enforcement roles, which may have contributed to the hiring decision.
However, critics argue this case reveals systemic failures in vetting processes.
Following his arrest, Evans was initially held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, according to ICE’s detainee lookup website.
A facility representative later confirmed he had been transferred to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts.
ICE did not comment on the discrepancy, and it remains unclear if Evans has legal representation, as messages left for him were not returned.
With the voluntary departure approved, Evans avoids a deportation order that could bar future re-entry.
Local media reported he plans to leave voluntarily, aligning with ICE’s confirmation.
Broader Implications for Immigration and Public Safety
This incident underscores ongoing challenges in U.S. immigration enforcement, particularly during efforts to intensify removals under current policies.
Advocacy groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) have highlighted how Evans’ case exposes “both local and federal weaknesses in screening out illegal aliens,” especially in sensitive roles like law enforcement.
The case also raises questions about racial profiling, with some online voices suggesting Evans’ Jamaican background played a role, though no evidence supports this claim.
ICE maintains the arrest was based solely on immigration violations and the firearm attempt.
As Evans prepares to depart, the Old Orchard Beach Police Department continues to defend its hiring practices, while federal officials emphasize the need for stricter enforcement to protect communities.
This story serves as a stark reminder of the complexities at the intersection of immigration policy, employment verification, and public safety.
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