US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers recently made headlines after arresting a Jamaican national for allegedly attempting to purchase a firearm illegally while employed as a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach.
The individual in question, Jon Luke Evans, was taken into custody with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after his suspicious firearm purchase attempt on July 25 in Biddeford raised concerns about his immigration status.
According to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston, Evans legally entered the United States through Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, under a visa that required his departure by October 1, 2023. However, he failed to leave as required and has since remained in the country unlawfully.
During the investigation, Evans claimed that he was seeking to purchase the firearm for use in his role with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department. This raised questions about how an individual without lawful immigration status was hired by a local police agency and possibly issued a department-issued weapon.
Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ERO Boston, expressed serious concerns about the case, stating, “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 revealed that Evans was hired in May as a seasonal officer and underwent a thorough background check, physical and medical screening, and law enforcement training. His employment documents were submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the federal E-Verify system, which confirmed his eligibility to work.
Maine is one of the states that allows non-citizens with valid work permits to serve in law enforcement. Reserve officers in Old Orchard Beach are seasonal employees who 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 assess its hiring protocols and ensure compliance with all federal and state laws. Police Chief Elise Chard stated, “We take our legal responsibilities very seriously and intend to investigate this matter thoroughly.”
The arrest of Evans comes on the heels of a similar case in April, where ICE officers detained another illegal immigrant law enforcement employee in Falmouth, Maine. Gratien Milandou Wamba, a 32-year-old Congolese national working as a corrections officer, was apprehended for immigration violations after allegedly attempting to purchase a firearm illegally.
ICE continues its enforcement efforts across New England, working with other federal agencies to identify and apprehend individuals in violation of US immigration laws, especially those employed in sensitive public safety positions.
