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A reserve police officer in Maine who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has agreed to voluntarily leave the country, the agency confirmed Monday.
Jon Luke Evans, originally from Jamaica, had been serving as a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department when federal immigration officials took him into custody on July 25. ICE has said the arrest was part of the agency’s broader effort to increase immigration enforcement.
The case has raised questions and tensions between local officials and federal authorities. Police Chief Elise Chard and other town officials said they believed Evans was legally authorized to work in the United States, citing prior communication from federal authorities. Before Evans’ employment, the town submitted his information through the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system, which checks whether potential employees are legally permitted to work in the country.
Despite that, ICE said Evans had overstayed his visa and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm, which led to his arrest. Following his detention, an immigration judge granted Evans the option of voluntary departure, allowing him to leave the U.S. on his own rather than face formal deportation. ICE said Monday that Evans could leave the country as soon as that day, though no specific timeline was provided.
The decision came as confusion mounted over Evans’ detention status. ICE’s public detainee database listed him as being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island. But a representative for the Wyatt facility said Evans had already been transferred to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. ICE officials did not comment on the discrepancy. It also remains unclear whether Evans has legal representation, and attempts to reach him at the detention facility went unanswered.
The arrest sparked a dispute between Old Orchard Beach officials and federal immigration authorities. While the town emphasized its reliance on E-Verify and the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form to comply with hiring laws, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin criticized the town’s approach, accusing it of “reckless reliance” on the federal system.
In a statement released Monday, Chief Chard reiterated the town’s position: “The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment. We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility.”
By agreeing to voluntary departure, Evans will be able to exit the country at his own expense and avoid the long-term consequences of a formal deportation order.
The unusual case underscores the challenges employers face when navigating federal verification systems, and highlights the friction that can occur when federal enforcement actions collide with local hiring practices.
