A Jamaican national, Jon Luke Evans, who served as a reserve police officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, was arrested by ICE on July 25, 2025, in Biddeford, Maine. ICE alleges Evans overstayed his visa and tried to buy a firearm unlawfully, raising urgent questions about federal employment checks and local police hiring practices.
Key Facts and Arrest Details
Evans entered the United States 🇺🇸 legally on September 24, 2023, through Miami International Airport, with a visa requiring him to leave by October 1, 2023. According to ICE, he did not depart as required, making him out of status. The arrest happened after Evans attempted to purchase a firearm for police duties, which triggered an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ATF then worked with ICE to detain him. As of July 29, 2025, Evans remains in ICE custody.
Dispute Over Employment Authorization
The Old Orchard Beach Police Department, where Evans worked, claims it followed all federal rules. The police chief said the department used the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system, which confirmed Evans was authorized to work in the United States 🇺🇸 until 2030. The E-Verify approval was received on May 12, 2025. The chief insists all documents were properly submitted and approved, and the department acted in good faith.
ICE’s Position and Public Statements
Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director for ICE ERO Boston, strongly criticized the department, saying, “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.” ICE maintains that Evans’s visa overstay made him ineligible for both employment and firearm possession.
System Gaps and Policy Implications
This case shows a serious gap between the E-Verify system and ICE enforcement. The Old Orchard Beach Police Department relied on E-Verify, but ICE later found Evans had overstayed his visa. Federal law bans non-citizens who are unlawfully present from buying or possessing firearms. The attempted firearm purchase led to Evans’s arrest and federal scrutiny.
Broader Context and Similar Cases
In April 2025, ICE arrested another Maine corrections officer, Gratien Milandou Wamba, for similar immigration violations and an illegal firearm purchase attempt. These cases highlight ongoing national debates about how local law enforcement agencies hire non-citizen employees and the reliability of federal verification systems.
What Happens Next
Evans entered the United States legally
Evans’s visa required departure
E-Verify approval received by police department
Evans arrested by ICE
Evans remains in ICE custody
Evans’s case will move through immigration court, where his visa overstay and employment status will be reviewed. The outcome could set new rules for hiring non-citizen police officers. Federal and state officials may also review and update employment checks for law enforcement.
Practical Steps and Resources
- ICE encourages the public to report suspicious activity by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or using the ICE online tip form.
- For more on E-Verify and employment eligibility, visit the official E-Verify website.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, this high-profile case may lead to changes in how police departments across the United States 🇺🇸 check the immigration status of their employees.
Learn Today
ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, responsible for enforcing immigration and customs laws.
E-Verify → A federal system that confirms employees’ eligibility to work in the United States.
Visa Overstay → Remaining in the U.S. beyond the authorized time period on a visa.
ATF → Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigates illegal firearm activities.
Work Authorization → Legal permission allowing a non-citizen to be employed in the U.S.
This Article in a Nutshell
Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican reserve police officer, was arrested by ICE for visa overstay and illegal firearm attempt, exposing failures in federal employment checks within local law enforcement.
— By VisaVerge.com
