Alleged Illegal Immigrant Working As Police Officer Arrested

A man reported to be an illegal immigrant who was working as a reserve police officer in Maine was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for allegedly attempting to purchase a firearm illegally, FOX News reports.

Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national, was detained with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after his attempt to buy a gun was flagged due to concerns over his immigration status on July 25, ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston confirmed. Evans reportedly entered the U.S. through Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, under a visa that required him to leave the country by October 1, 2023, making his status illegal since, according to ICE.

Evans reportedly told officers that he was trying to buy a firearm for his role as a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department during the investigation, which has led to ICE officials probing how an individual with illegal immigration status could be hired by a police agency, as well as potentially be issued a weapon.

“This case raises serious concerns,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ERO Boston, via FOX News. “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 issued a statement to FOX News Digital confirming that Evans underwent a full background check, physical and medical screening, and law enforcement training upon joining the force in May. The department reportedly submitted Evans' employment documents to the Department of Homeland Security through the federal E-Verify system, which it claimed confirmed his eligibility to work and stated that his Employment Authorization Document showed a March 2030 expiration date.

“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 via FOX News. “We are distressed and deeply concerned about this apparent error on the part of the federal government."

Maine is among several U.S. states that permits non-citizens with valid work permits to work as law enforcement. Old Orchard Beach reserve officers are seasonal employees responsible for community patrols and are prohibited from taking department-issued firearms home or carrying personal weapons while on duty.

Evans' probationary status is currently under review as the department continues its ongoing internal investigation into its hiring protocols.

“We take our legal responsibilities very seriously,” Chief Chard said via FOX News.