Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national who served as a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, has agreed to voluntarily leave the United States after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 25, 2025. The case, which unfolded over several weeks, has ignited a heated debate over employment verification systems and the responsibilities of local law enforcement agencies when hiring non-citizen officers.
Evans' journey to the U.S. began in September 2023, when he legally entered the country through Miami International Airport on a weeklong visa. According to ICE and reports from WMTW-TV and the Associated Press, Evans was scheduled to depart by October 1, 2023. However, he failed to leave as required, overstaying his visa and remaining in the country unlawfully.
Despite his visa overstay, Evans managed to secure a position as a reserve police officer in the popular tourist town of Old Orchard Beach by May 2025. As part of his hiring process, Evans underwent a background check, physical and medical screenings, and law enforcement training. The Old Orchard Beach Police Department submitted his employment documents to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and used the E-Verify program to confirm his eligibility to work in the U.S. According to Police Chief Elise Chard, DHS indicated that Evans had an eligible work permit set to expire in March 2030.
Evans’ role as a reserve officer was subject to strict limitations. Chief Chard clarified to Fox News Digital that reserve officers like Evans were not permitted to carry department-issued firearms or bring personal weapons on duty. Nevertheless, in July 2025, Evans attempted to purchase a firearm, reportedly for use in his police duties. This attempt triggered a federal alert due to his immigration status, leading to his arrest by ICE with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Biddeford, Maine.
Following his arrest, Evans was initially held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts before being transferred to the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Later, he was moved to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. These transfers created confusion, as ICE officials did not immediately clarify his exact location, and it remained unclear whether Evans had legal representation during his detention.
ICE officials stated that Evans was required to acknowledge his unlawful presence in the U.S., forgo any applications for legal status, and demonstrate both the intention and financial ability to depart the country as conditions for his voluntary departure. A judge granted Evans this option on August 18, 2025, allowing him to leave the U.S. at his own expense and avoid formal deportation proceedings—a decision confirmed by ICE and reported by multiple outlets, including the Associated Press.
The case quickly escalated into a public dispute between Old Orchard Beach officials and federal authorities. Police Chief Elise Chard expressed frustration over what she described as conflicting guidance from the federal government. "Our department and our community relied on the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to ensure we were meeting our obligations," Chard told Fox News Digital. "We are distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government." She further emphasized, "Simply stated, had the federal government flagged his information, my town would not have hired Mr. Evans. Any insinuation that the town and department were derelict in our efforts to verify Mr. Evans’ eligibility to work for the town is false and appears to be an attempt to shift the blame onto a hard-working local law enforcement agency that has done its job."
On the other side, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin criticized the town for its "reckless reliance" on the E-Verify program. According to WMTW-TV, McLaughlin argued that "usage of E-Verify does not absolve employers of their legal duty to verify documentation authenticity, and all employers should take necessary steps to effectively verify legal employment status." She stressed, "No illegal alien should ever be provided a firearm or serve in law enforcement, not only is it the law, it’s also basic common sense." However, McLaughlin also noted that E-Verify "delivers high accuracy in verifying work authorization by cross-checking employee documents against government databases to combat rampant document fraud and protecting American workers."
This back-and-forth has shone a spotlight on the E-Verify system, an online tool designed to help employers confirm whether potential hires are legally authorized to work in the U.S. While the federal government has encouraged its use nationwide, the Evans case has exposed potential vulnerabilities and differing interpretations of employers' responsibilities. ICE is now reportedly investigating how Evans was hired and whether he was ever issued a department weapon, though Chief Chard maintains that reserve officers are not permitted to carry firearms—department-issued or otherwise—while on duty.
Throughout the controversy, the Old Orchard Beach Police Department has reiterated its commitment to compliance with both state and federal employment laws. "The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment," Chard said in a statement. "We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility."
The situation has raised broader questions about the effectiveness of current employment verification systems and the division of responsibility between local agencies and federal authorities. While E-Verify is intended as a safeguard, critics like McLaughlin argue that it cannot be the sole line of defense against unauthorized employment. Meanwhile, local officials insist that they followed all available protocols and that any failure lies with the system rather than those tasked with using it.
For now, Evans’ agreement to voluntary departure brings his chapter in U.S. law enforcement to a close. His case, however, is likely to fuel ongoing debates about immigration enforcement, the role of local police departments, and the reliability of federal employment verification tools in an era of heightened scrutiny and complex legal requirements.
With Evans preparing to leave the country, the town of Old Orchard Beach is left to reckon with the aftermath—a collision of good intentions, bureaucratic missteps, and the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. immigration law.
