In a case that has ignited debate over immigration enforcement and hiring practices in law enforcement, Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national who served as a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, has agreed to leave the United States voluntarily after being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The episode has cast a spotlight on the reliability of federal employment verification systems and the responsibilities of local agencies in vetting new hires.
Evans’ story began in September 2023 when he entered the U.S. legally through Miami International Airport on a weeklong visa. According to federal officials cited by Newsweek and the Associated Press, Evans was scheduled to depart on October 1, 2023, but never boarded his return flight. Instead, he settled in Maine and was eventually hired as a reserve officer by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, a popular resort community on the state’s southern coast.
Before Evans started his police duties, the town and its police department went through what they believed to be all the proper channels. Police Chief Elise Chard explained, as reported by Daily Mail and Newsweek, that Evans submitted the required I-9 Form and supporting photo ID, which were processed through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) E-Verify system. "The form was submitted and approved by DHS on May 12, 2025," Chard stated. "Evans would not have been permitted to begin work as a reserve officer until and unless Homeland Security verified his status." The department further noted that Evans possessed an Employment Authorization Document valid until March 2030.
Yet, on July 25, 2025, Evans was arrested by ICE agents after attempting to purchase a firearm for his police duties—an act that triggered an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which then coordinated with ICE, as detailed by Newsweek. ICE alleged that Evans had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully trying to acquire a firearm. The agency’s detainee lookup website initially showed Evans being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, before he was transferred to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts.
The arrest set off a heated dispute between Old Orchard Beach officials and ICE. The town’s leaders insisted they had followed every protocol required by federal and state law. Town Manager Diana Asanza told Daily Mail, "Old Orchard Beach follows all of the pre-employment guidelines expected of an employer in the state of Maine and in the US." She went on to accuse "certain federal agencies" of undermining public trust in local law enforcement, adding, "If we should not trust the word of the federal computer system that verifies documents and employment eligibility, what good is that system?"
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin, however, leveled harsh criticism at the police department, accusing it of "reckless reliance" on the E-Verify system. "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," McLaughlin said in a statement. She added, "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." Despite her criticism, McLaughlin also described E-Verify as a proven tool that delivers high accuracy in verifying work authorization by cross-checking employee documents against government databases.
ICE ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde took an even stronger stance, telling Newsweek in July, "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. 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."
For Evans, the legal process moved quickly. After more than three weeks in detention, an immigration judge granted him voluntary departure on August 18, 2025, as confirmed by ICE and reported by WMTW-TV. This means Evans can leave the United States at his own expense, avoiding the stigma and legal barriers of formal deportation. Court records show that to secure this option, Evans had to admit he was not living in the U.S. legally, withdraw any applications to remain, and demonstrate both the intent and the means to depart. According to Daily Mail, voluntary departure could allow Evans to return to the U.S. more easily in the future than if he were deported.
The underlying cause of Evans’ arrest—the attempted firearm purchase—remains a point of contention. Chief Chard clarified that reserve officers are not asked to purchase firearms themselves and must return any department-issued weapons after their shifts. "Reserve officers do carry firearms but are not allowed to bring them home and must return them to the department after their shifts," she explained. The department emphasized that Evans was not permitted to carry any firearm not issued by the police department.
This local controversy has unfolded against a backdrop of heightened national immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized the removal of undocumented immigrants, and ICE’s actions have drawn both praise and criticism. As Newsweek noted, immigration authorities have been under increased scrutiny, with concerns raised about the legality and human impact of their practices.
The Evans case has exposed cracks in the employment verification process that both local and federal officials rely on. While Old Orchard Beach officials argue that they did everything by the book, federal authorities maintain that more stringent checks are necessary. The dispute raises uncomfortable questions: If E-Verify and other federal systems can be circumvented or fail to catch someone’s ineligibility, what hope do smaller towns have of catching mistakes before they become headlines?
As Evans prepares to leave the country, the town of Old Orchard Beach and federal agencies are left to reflect on the lessons of this episode. The incident has prompted calls for clearer guidance and more robust verification, but it has also underscored the challenges faced by local governments caught between federal mandates and real-world complexities.
With Evans’ departure imminent, the debate over employment verification, immigration enforcement, and the delicate balance between local and federal authority is far from settled. For now, Old Orchard Beach is left to pick up the pieces—and perhaps rethink how it navigates an increasingly complex legal landscape.
