In a stunning breach of protocol that has sent shockwaves through Maine’s law enforcement community, Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national illegally residing in the United States, was hired as a police officer by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department. The scandal unfolded when Evans, who overstayed a temporary visa, attempted to illegally purchase a firearm, triggering an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This incident has exposed significant flaws in hiring practices and raised questions about the enforcement of immigration laws in sanctuary states like Maine.
Evans entered the U.S. during the Biden administration on a temporary visa that mandated his departure by October 2023. However, he failed to board his scheduled flight back to Jamaica, choosing instead to remain in the country unlawfully. Despite his illegal status, Evans secured a position with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in May 2025. The department, tasked with upholding the law, conducted what they claimed was a thorough background check. Astonishingly, Evans passed through the federal E-Verify system, administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which confirmed his eligibility to work with an Employment Authorization Document valid until March 2030. This document, issued under questionable circumstances, allowed Evans to slip through the cracks and assume a role as a sworn officer, complete with the authority to carry a firearm.
The case took a dramatic turn when Evans attempted to purchase a gun, an act he later admitted was related to his duties as a police officer. This attempt violated federal law, as his immigration status prohibited him from legally acquiring firearms. The transaction triggered an alert to the ATF, which promptly notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston swiftly apprehended Evans, bringing his brief tenure as a police officer to an abrupt end. The incident has sparked outrage, with many questioning how an individual with an expired visa could be entrusted with such a sensitive position.
Patricia Hyde, acting field office director for ICE ERO in Boston, issued a scathing statement that underscored the gravity of the situation. “Jon Luke Evans not only broke U.S. immigration law, but he also illegally attempted to purchase a firearm,” Hyde said. “Shockingly, Evans was employed as a local law enforcement officer. The fact that a police department would hire an illegal alien and unlawfully issue him a firearm while on duty would be comical if it weren’t so tragic.” Hyde’s remarks highlight a troubling paradox: a law enforcement agency, charged with protecting the public, knowingly employed an individual who was himself breaking the law. She emphasized ICE’s commitment to public safety, vowing to continue arresting and removing “criminal alien threats” from New England communities.
Maine’s status as a sanctuary state, one of roughly a dozen that permit undocumented immigrants with work permits to serve in law enforcement roles, has come under scrutiny. Critics argue that such policies create vulnerabilities, allowing individuals like Evans to exploit loopholes in the system. The Old Orchard Beach Police Department’s reliance on the E-Verify system, coupled with the issuance of an Employment Authorization Document, raises questions about the effectiveness of federal oversight during the Biden administration.
How could a system designed to verify employment eligibility fail to flag an individual who had overstayed his visa by nearly two years?
The incident has broader implications for public trust in law enforcement. Residents of Old Orchard Beach, a small coastal community, are grappling with the revelation that an officer patrolling their streets was not only undocumented but also attempted to engage in illegal activity under the guise of his official duties. Calls for reform are growing, with demands for stricter vetting processes and clearer guidelines on the employment of non-citizens in sensitive roles. As ICE continues its investigation, the case of Jon Luke Evans serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and contradictions inherent in balancing immigration policy with public safety. The fallout from this scandal is likely to reverberate for months to come.
