Federal authorities have apprehended an illegal Jamaican national who was employed as a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, after he attempted to purchase a firearm illegally. The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration compliance and the potential risks posed by individuals lacking lawful status in public safety roles.
According to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston, Jon Luke Evans was taken into custody with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after his firearm purchase attempt raised concerns tied to his immigration status on July 25 in Biddeford. Federal officials allege that Evans legally entered the United States through Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, under a visa requiring his departure by October 1, 2023. He failed to leave as required and has remained in the country unlawfully since.
During the investigation, Evans reportedly claimed he was seeking to purchase the firearm for use in his role with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department. ICE officials are now questioning how an individual without lawful immigration status was hired by a local police agency and possibly issued a department-issued weapon.