Maine Reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans Arrested by ICE Agrees to Leave

(OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE) Jon Luke Evans, a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 25, 2025 and has now agreed to voluntarily depart the United States after a judge approved his request on August 18–19, 2025. ICE officials say Evans, a Jamaican national, was arrested for overstaying his visa and for attempting to purchase a firearm unlawfully, an allegation the agency has not expanded on in public statements.

Town leaders say they did what the law requires before hiring him. According to Police Chief Elise Chard, Old Orchard Beach completed the federal Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification and used the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system to confirm work permission. The department also says federal officials told the town that Evans could be employed in the role.

That defense drew a sharp public reply from Washington. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin accused the town of “reckless reliance” on E-Verify, arguing that the tool can be helpful but is not enough for sensitive public safety jobs. The comment echoed rising pressure from federal officials to apply tighter checks for police hires who are not U.S. citizens.

Evans was first held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island, then moved to an ICE site in Burlington, Massachusetts. The agency did not explain why he was transferred. It is still unclear whether he has a lawyer; attempts to reach him at the facility were not successful.

Voluntary departure and what it means

By granting voluntary departure, the immigration judge allowed Evans to leave at his own expense instead of receiving a formal removal order. Under this relief, he must exit the country within the time set by the court.

If he leaves on time, he avoids the legal weight that comes with a removal order and may face fewer roadblocks if he seeks a visa again in the future. Immigration law specialists say this option is often better for people accused of a status violation like overstaying his visa.

Voluntary departure typically:
– Lets individuals depart quickly and pay their own way.
– Avoids a formal removal order and potential future bars to reentry.
– Is often preferred in visa overstay cases to reduce long-term immigration consequences.

Typical case sequence

Here’s the basic sequence for cases like this, reflected in court records and agency practice:

1. Arrest: ICE agents detain the person for immigration violations.
2. Detention: The person is held at an ICE-approved facility pending review.
3. Immigration hearing: A judge reviews the case and may grant voluntary departure.
4. Voluntary departure: The person arranges travel and leaves the U.S. within the court’s timeframe, at personal expense.

Important: Timing matters. If a person misses the voluntary departure deadline, the option can convert to a removal order with far tougher consequences.

Hiring questions and the E-Verify debate

The Evans case put a spotlight on hiring steps used by small police departments. Old Orchard Beach says it relied on the same tools used by many employers: E-Verify and the Form I-9.

• Form I-9 records identity and work authorization and is required for every new hire. Employers can find the form at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9.
• The federal E-Verify program checks government records to confirm the data on a worker’s documents. The program is explained at https://www.e-verify.gov.

Assistant Secretary McLaughlin’s warning—calling the town’s approach “reckless reliance”—signals a larger policy fight. Federal managers want tighter checks for roles with badges and guns, while local leaders say they already follow federal rules and lack authority to do more than the law allows.

Risks and responsibilities for departments

In this gap, departments face risk: a hire who later turns out to be out of status can shake trust within the ranks and with the public. Old Orchard Beach officials maintain that they complied with the rules.

• Chief Chard said the department completed the required checks and received word from federal authorities that Evans was work-eligible.
• ICE confirmed the visa overstay and the attempted firearm purchase but declined to explain the detention transfer from Rhode Island to Massachusetts or offer more detail on its claims.

For communities, the case raises basic questions:
– How should small towns confirm status for officers while staying within the law?
– What happens when federal records say one thing during hiring but later suggest another?

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the likely outcome is new federal guidance that urges agencies to keep E-Verify and Form I-9, but to add extra checks for roles with arrest powers.

Next steps, resources, and broader implications

Evans’s immediate path is clear: once travel is arranged, he can leave the country under the judge’s order. Officials have not shared the exact timeline in this case.

Nationally, ICE has stepped up actions against visa overstays, and cases tied to public safety roles draw special attention. For departments like Old Orchard Beach, practical lessons include:

• Keep strong hiring files and document each step.
• Be ready to explain how hiring choices were made.
• Consider additional checks for sensitive positions when permitted by law.

For noncitizen officers and other workers, the case is a reminder that status issues can surface even after a job offer, especially if a person is later accused of overstaying his visa.

Two official tools offer updates and guidance:
– ICE Detainee Locator — to confirm where someone is held.
– Federal E-Verify program — to review how the system works and its limits in confirming status.

Key takeaway: Police chiefs, town attorneys, and immigrant employees should keep records current, ask questions early, and seek qualified legal help if status issues arise before they turn into a crisis.

While Evans has not spoken publicly, his case will likely be cited in training rooms well beyond Maine. Police chiefs will weigh how to balance staffing needs with added checks, and town attorneys will revisit hiring policies line by line. For immigrants in uniform and civilians alike, the message is simple: keep records current, ask questions early, and seek qualified legal help if status issues arise before they turn into a crisis today.