Maine Reserve Officer Arrested Over Visa Overstay

Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national who served as a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after attempting to purchase a firearm while unlawfully present in the U.S. Evans had lawfully entered the country in September 2023 but failed to depart as required in October, resulting in visa overstay. ICE criticized the police department for hiring and arming an individual without legal status, though police officials stated Evans passed background checks and was cleared for employment via the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system. The Old Orchard Beach Police clarified that reserve officers are issued firearms for duty but must return them after their shifts, and are not allowed to buy their own weapons. This arrest follows a similar case involving another non-citizen working in Maine law enforcement. The incident has intensified scrutiny of employment verification and public safety standards in police hiring.