Nationwide — Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican police officer from Old Orchard Beach, Maine, has agreed to leave the United States voluntarily after being arrested by immigration authorities. He had once been cleared to work by federal checks, but ICE later challenged his status.
Evans, a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 25. Authorities accused him of overstaying his visa and attempting to purchase a firearm illegally, as reported by CNN.
After weeks in detention, a judge approved his voluntary departure, allowing him to exit the country at his own expense instead of undergoing formal deportation. ICE officials said he could leave as early as Monday.
His arrest fueled tension between town officials and federal authorities. Police Chief Elise Chard said federal checks had previously confirmed Evans’ eligibility to work. She explained that the town relied on E-Verify, a system that matches employee details with government records. Homeland Security officials later criticized the town for depending too heavily on the program.
Old Orchard Beach officials said they remain committed to following state and federal laws. They plan to continue using both E-Verify and the I-9 employment form when hiring staff.
Evans was first detained at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island before being transferred to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. It remains unclear if he had legal representation.
Reports said his voluntary departure spares him from deportation proceedings, though he must pay for his own travel out of the U.S.