After overstaying his visa, a Jamaican national, who served as a police officer in Maine, has agreed to leave the U.S. voluntarily following his detention by immigration officials when he attempted to buy a firearm.
A judge confirmed on Monday that John Luke Evans, a former reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, will exit the country. He needs to cover his own travel expenses within a specified timeframe.
Evans acknowledged his unauthorized presence in the U.S., which disqualifies him from applying for legal status. He had to demonstrate both the intent and financial capability to depart voluntarily.
His arrest occurred on July 25 in Bideford after he was reported to be attempting to purchase a gun, prompting involvement from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
After being detained, he was held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts before being moved to Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island.
Evans initially entered the U.S. legally in September 2023 with a one-week visa through Miami International Airport, but missed his scheduled departure on October 1, 2023, and later secured a police officer position in Maine.
By May, he had become a seasonal officer in a popular tourist town, undergoing background checks, physical exams, and training as part of his employment process.
The police department had sent Evans’ employment records to the Department of Homeland Security to confirm his qualifications, and DHS indicated he had a work permit that is set to expire in March 2030.
Police Chief Elise Chard expressed concern over the oversight, stating that the department relied on the DHS’s e-Verify system to ensure compliance with employment laws.
“We are very concerned about this apparent error by the federal government,” she noted.
Evans, as a reserve officer, was not allowed to take home firearms issued by the department or carry personal weapons while on duty.
The town is aware of reports that he is planning to exit the country voluntarily, and reiterates its commitment to adhere to state and federal employment laws.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Homeland Security Director, suggested further investigations to verify the legal status of employees, criticizing the police department for its reliance on the e-Verify program.
“Employers have a legal obligation to verify the authenticity of documents,” she stated. “We should not permit firearms to be in the hands of individuals who are illegally in the country.”
Yet, she acknowledged that e-Verify maintains a high accuracy rate in cross-checking work permits against government databases.
Officials from Old Orchard Beach defended their reliance on federal electronic verification processes, emphasizing they would not have hired Evans had there been any flags in his records.
Chief Chard remarked that the implication of negligence on their part is inaccurate and unfairly shifts responsibility from the diligent local law enforcement agency.
