Fate revealed for illegal migrant caught working as police officer
A Jamaican national who overstayed his visa and was later hired as a police officer in Maine has agreed to voluntarily leave the United States after being detained by federal immigration authorities while attempting to purchase a firearm.
A judge on Monday approved the voluntary departure of Jon Luke Evans, a former reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, according to WMTW-TV. Evans must cover his own travel expenses and leave the country within a designated timeframe. As part of the agreement, he admitted to being in the country unlawfully, waived his right to seek legal immigration status, and demonstrated both intent and financial means to depart.
Evans was arrested on July 25 in Biddeford, Maine, after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was alerted to his attempt to buy a gun. He was initially held at Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts before being transferred to the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, Rhode Island.
Evans legally entered the U.S. through Miami International Airport in September 2023 on a weeklong visa. He was due to depart on October 1 but failed to do so. By May 2024, he had joined the Old Orchard Beach Police Department as a seasonal reserve officer in the coastal tourist town.
As part of the department’s hiring process, Evans underwent a background check, medical screening, and law enforcement training. His employment documents were also submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for verification through the E-Verify system.
According to Police Chief Elise Chard, the DHS indicated that Evans held a valid work permit set to expire in March 2030. “Our department and community relied on the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to ensure we were meeting our obligations,” Chard told Fox News Digital. “We are distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government.”
E-Verify is an online tool that checks employment eligibility by comparing information from the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form against federal records.
As a reserve officer, Evans was not permitted to carry his own firearm or take department-issued weapons home. Chief Chard emphasized that reserve officers are not allowed to use personal weapons while on duty.
Following reports of Evans’ agreement to voluntarily leave the country, the town issued a statement affirming its commitment to comply with all state and federal employment laws.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin criticized the department’s reliance on E-Verify, calling it “reckless” and suggesting they should have taken further steps to confirm Evans’ legal status. “No illegal alien should ever be provided a firearm or serve in law enforcement. Not only is it the law—it’s basic common sense,” she said.
McLaughlin acknowledged that while E-Verify is a highly accurate system for confirming work authorization, it does not eliminate the employer’s responsibility to verify the authenticity of employee documents.
In response, officials in Old Orchard Beach argued that the federal government has long promoted E-Verify as a reliable tool. “Simply stated, had the federal government flagged his information, my town would not have hired Mr. Evans,” Chief Chard stated. “Any insinuation that the town and department were derelict in our efforts to verify Mr. Evans’ eligibility to work is false and appears to be an attempt to shift the blame onto a hard-working local law enforcement agency that has done its job.”
About Post Author
