US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested a Jamaican national for allegedly attempting to purchase a firearm illegally while employed as a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach.
According to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston, Jon Luke Evans was taken into custody with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after his firearm purchase attempt raised concerns tied to his immigration status on July 25 in Biddeford.
Federal authorities say Evans legally entered the United States through Miami International Airport on Sept. 24, 2023, under a visa that required his departure by Oct. 1, 2023.
He failed to leave as required and has remained in the country unlawfully since.
During the investigation, Evans reportedly claimed he was seeking to purchase the firearm for use in his role with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department.
ICE officials are now questioning how an individual without lawful immigration status was hired by a local police agency and possibly issued a department-issued weapon.
“This case raises serious concerns,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ERO Boston. “We will continue working to ensure that individuals who violate immigration laws and pose potential threats to public safety are held accountable.”
The Old Orchard Beach Police Department told Fox News Digital that Evans was hired in May as a seasonal officer and underwent a full background check, physical and medical screening, and law enforcement training.
As part of the hiring process, the department submitted his employment documents to DHS through the federal E-Verify system. According to police, DHS confirmed Evans’ eligibility to work, and his Employment Authorization Document showed an expiration date of March 2030.
“Our department and our community relied on the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to ensure we were meeting our obligations,” said Police Chief Elise Chard. “We are distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government.”
Maine is one of about a dozen states that allows non-citizens with valid work permits to serve in law enforcement. Reserve officers in Old Orchard Beach are seasonal employees tasked with community patrols and do not take department-issued firearms home or carry personal weapons while on duty.
Evans’ probationary status is currently under review, and the department has launched an internal investigation to evaluate its hiring protocols and ensure compliance with all federal and state laws.
“We take our legal responsibilities very seriously,” Chief Chard added.
“We intend to investigate this matter thoroughly and determine what additional steps may be necessary moving forward.”
The arrest of Evans follows a similar case from April, in which ICE officers detained another illegal immigrant law enforcement employee in Falmouth, Maine.
Gratien Milandou Wamba, a 32-year-old Congolese national, was working as a corrections officer when he was apprehended by ICE for immigration violations after allegedly attempting to purchase a firearm illegally.
“Officers with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston field office arrested Gratien Milandou Wamba, an illegally present, 32-year-old citizen of Congo,” ICE Spokesperson James Covington, noting the arrest stemmed from an unlawful firearm purchase attempt.
ICE emphasized that it will continue enforcement efforts across New England, working in coordination with other federal agencies to identify and apprehend individuals in violation of U.S. immigration laws, especially those employed in sensitive public safety positions.
