An illegal immigrant employed as a police officer has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after raising red flags while attempting to purchase a firearm for his new position.
The individual, a Jamaican national, entered the U.S. under the Biden administration in 2023 and overstayed his visa. He had recently been hired by the police department in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
According to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston, Jon Luke Evans was taken into custody with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after his immigration status was flagged during a July 25 firearm purchase application. During the investigation, Evans reportedly told federal immigration agents that the weapon was intended for use in his role as a police officer.
ICE is now investigating how the local police department was able to bypass federal hiring requirements to train Evans as a police officer. “This case raises serious concerns,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ERO Boston. “We will continue working to ensure that individuals who violate immigration laws and pose potential threats to public safety are held accountable.”
The Old Orchard Beach Police Department responded by stating that Evans was screened through the national E-Verify system during the hiring process for his role as a seasonal officer. A department spokesperson added that he also underwent a full background check, along with physical and psychological evaluations.
An Employment Authorization Document provided by Evans was reportedly verified through the E-Verify system, leading local officials to believe he was legally authorized to work in the U.S. through March 2030.
“Our department and our community relied on the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to ensure we were meeting our obligations,” said Police Chief Elise Chard. “We are distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government.”
Maine is one of about a dozen states that allow non-citizens with valid work visas to take jobs in law enforcement, according to Fox News.
