(BIDDEFORD) A Maine reserve police officer, Jon Luke Evans, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 25, 2025, in Biddeford after officials said he overstayed his visa and attempted to purchase a firearm, triggering a federal check. On August 19, 2025, an immigration judge granted Evans voluntary departure, allowing him to leave for Jamaica at his own expense instead of going through formal deportation.
ICE said its Boston field office worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after the attempted gun purchase alerted federal systems.
Entry, overstay and arrest
Evans, a Jamaican national, legally entered the United States through Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, under a visa that required him to depart by October 1, 2023. He did not leave on time and remained in the country without status, according to federal records cited in the case.
The arrest in Biddeford followed his attempt to buy a firearm for police duties, which drew ATF attention and led to coordination with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston.
A judge’s order for voluntary departure means Evans can arrange travel and exit the country without a removal order on his record, provided he leaves by the court-set deadline. Officials briefed on the case said he could depart as soon as the week of August 19. ICE said it is also reviewing how Evans was hired and whether he ever received a department-issued firearm.
Hiring, verification and agency responses
Evans served as a part-time, seasonal reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department. The department said it completed federal hiring checks, including the Form I-9 employment verification, which was run through the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system. The agency said the I-9 came back approved.
The department also said Evans presented an Employment Authorization Document (EAD, Form I-766) that appeared valid until March 2030. Police Chief Elise Chard said the department was “distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government,” and emphasized that Old Orchard Beach followed state and federal hiring rules.
DHS, however, pushed back. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized what she called “reckless reliance” on E-Verify, suggesting a failure to check other records or resolve mismatches. Federal officials often note that E-Verify confirms whether documents look valid against databases at the time of the check, but it does not grant legal status or excuse a visa overstay.
Acting ERO Boston Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde called the case “serious,” saying ICE remains focused on removing people who break immigration laws and may pose public safety risks.
Hiring checks under scrutiny
The Evans case has prompted broader questions for New England police departments and local governments. If a person who overstayed a short-term visa can pass hiring checks for a job that may involve access to a firearm, what does that say about the strength of current verification steps?
- The Old Orchard Beach Police Department says it relied on federal systems that cleared Evans to work.
- DHS says E-Verify should not be the final word when questions about legal status arise.
- ICE says it is investigating the hiring chain and whether any department weapon reached Evans.
This tension underscores a technical but important point: E-Verify is a tool used with the Form I-9 to confirm work eligibility documents, not a real-time status finder for every visa class. Employers must still review identity and work authorization documents carefully and follow up when something does not match.
Evans’ reported EAD, cited by the department as valid to 2030, adds another layer. An EAD is a government-issued card that shows temporary work permission. But work permission and immigration status can move on separate tracks, and errors do happen.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, cases like this expose gaps between document checks and true, current immigration status—especially when multiple agencies and databases are involved.
Key dates and procedural steps
Key dates in the case:
– Sept. 24, 2023: Legal entry at Miami International Airport.
– Oct. 1, 2023: Required departure date stated on visa terms.
– July 25, 2025: Arrest in Biddeford by ICE ERO Boston, with ATF support.
– Aug. 19, 2025: Judge grants voluntary departure; Evans plans to leave for Jamaica.
In procedural terms, the Evans case moved quickly. The sequence was:
- Firearm purchase attempt triggered an ATF alert.
- ICE took Evans into custody.
- An immigration judge reviewed the case.
- The judge granted voluntary departure with a set deadline.
- ICE opened an inquiry into the hiring steps and any firearm access.
A similar arrest earlier this year raised alarms as well. In April 2025, ICE detained Gratien Milandou Wamba, a Congolese national working in Maine law enforcement, for immigration violations and an attempted illegal firearm purchase. Taken together, these events have intensified the review of hiring rules and federal employment checks in the region.
What voluntary departure means
Voluntary departure lets a person leave the United States without a removal order, if the judge grants it and the person pays for travel and exits by the deadline. It can reduce future penalties compared with a formal deportation order, which can carry longer bars on returning.
For official guidance on voluntary departure, see the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/voluntary-departure.
Implications for employers, law enforcement and immigrants
For police departments, the practical questions center on strengthening first-day hiring checks and follow-up reviews for sensitive roles. For immigrants, the case is a reminder that even if an employer’s system shows “work authorized,” overstays can still lead to arrest, detention, and removal action.
For the public, the episode raises hard questions about safety and trust when someone without current status is able to assume any law enforcement role.
Employers should ensure their I-9 process is current and complete. Useful resources:
– Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification): https://www.uscis.gov/i-9
– Guidance on acceptable documents, including the Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766): https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
ICE says tips can be shared at the ICE Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423). Updates from the Boston field office are posted on X at @EROBoston.
Moving forward
As the investigation continues, DHS officials have hinted at closer checks for law enforcement hiring. Local departments across Maine and neighboring states are reviewing their onboarding steps for reserve officers, seasonal hires, and part-time staff.
Evans’ arrest in Biddeford will likely remain a reference point for how E-Verify, the I-9 process, and immigration status controls interact—and where those systems may fall short when split among multiple agencies. ICE’s Patricia H. Hyde called the case “serious”; Old Orchard Beach’s chief called the situation “distressed and deeply concerned.” Those two short phrases sum up the push and pull: protect public safety while relying on systems that must be accurate, fast, and shared.
Evans’ voluntary departure now moves the case toward a close for him, but for employers, police agencies, and immigrant workers who rely on clear federal records, the hard work lies ahead in making sure that what happened in Biddeford does not happen again.
This Article in a Nutshell
A Biddeford reserve officer’s visa overstay triggered ATF and ICE scrutiny after a firearm purchase attempt, revealing verification gaps. The August 19, 2025 voluntary departure spares formal deportation, but agencies now review hiring, E-Verify reliance, I-9 process, and any department-issued firearm access to prevent repeats.
