Jamaican Man Arrested in Maine for Allegedly Working as Police Officer While in U.S. Illegally
Jamaica Live International News Desk| July 29, 2025
A Jamaican national who allegedly overstayed his visa in the United States has been arrested after authorities discovered he was working as a police officer in the town of Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Jon Luke Evans, who entered the U.S. legally via Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, never boarded his scheduled return flight. Since then, he had been living in the country without legal status.
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Evans was arrested last Friday in Biddeford, Maine, after he allegedly attempted to illegally purchase a firearm—an act that alerted federal authorities, including agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston coordinated the arrest following the alert.
In a shocking revelation, immigration officials said Evans had been employed as a reserve police officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department. He was hired in May 2025 as part of the department’s seasonal policing efforts.
Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard confirmed the hiring and expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that Evans had completed all necessary employment paperwork, including a federal immigration and work authorization form that was approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“We are distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government,” Chief Chard said in a statement.
According to Chief Chard, Evans presented an I-766 Employment Authorization Document that appeared valid until March 2030. The department had no reason to suspect his immigration status was unlawful at the time of hiring.
Evans reportedly told ICE officers that he tried to purchase a personal firearm for his police duties. However, Chief Chard made it clear that department policy prohibits reserve officers from carrying or purchasing personal firearms for use on the job. All weapons used by reserve officers are department-issued and must be returned at the end of each shift.
ICE ERO Boston Acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde described the situation as alarming.
“Jon Luke Evans not only broke U.S. immigration law, but he also illegally attempted to purchase a firearm. Shockingly, Evans was employed as a local law enforcement officer,” Hyde said.
The Old Orchard Beach Police Department has now launched an internal investigation to determine what steps should be taken next and how the apparent breakdown in federal verification processes occurred.
This case has raised serious questions about the reliability of federal immigration verification systems, especially when it comes to employment in sensitive positions such as law enforcement. It also highlights vulnerabilities in local hiring practices that rely on DHS approvals.
As of now, Evans remains in ICE custody, pending immigration proceedings. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to release a statement explaining how the work authorization was approved despite his visa overstay.
Jamaica Live will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they develop.