Maine Police Chief Speaks Out About Officer’s Detention By ICE

A Maine Police Chief says a summer reserve officer, now being held by ICE, was approved by Homeland Security before he was hired.

Maine Police Reserve Officer Detained by ICE After Legally Entering the U.S. in 2023

Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national who was working as a reserve police officer for the Old Orchard Police Department, was arrested on July 25, 2025, in Biddeford, Maine, after attempting to purchase a firearm.

In a release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials say Evans admitted to officers that he tried to buy a firearm for his job with the police department. That triggered an alert to ATF agents, who worked in coordination with ICE to make the arrest.

READ MORE: 10 Times Maine Made National Headlines for Unexpected Reasons

Evans lawfully entered the U.S. on September 24, 2023, at the Miami International Airport in Florida. The news release states that he overstayed his visa, which expired on October 1, 2023.

Maine Police Chief Says Homeland Security approved the Officer's Hiring

In a post on the Old Orchard Beach Police Department's Facebook page, Chief Elise Chard says when Evans was hired in May as a summer reserve officer, he was required to complete an I-9 federal immigration and work authorization form to verify that he was legally authorized to work in the United States.

Chief Chard says the Department of Homeland Security verified Evans was authorized to work in the U.S. when it approved the I-9 form on May 12, 2025.

The Police Department was notified that Evans was legally permitted to work in the U.S., and his I-766 Employment Authorization Document was not set to expire until March 2030.

Get our free mobile app

Chard goes on to say that the summer reserve officers in Old Orchard Beach are required to meet the same background checks as full-time police officers.

Maine Police Chief Says Reserve Officers are Not Allowed to Use Private Firearms

She added that reserve officers are issued department-approved firearms that they turn in at the end of each shift. They are not allowed to use non-departmental weapons while on duty.

Chief Chard says her department learned of Evans' detention in a news release issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Old Orchard Beach Police plan to conduct an investigation into the incident and determine the steps that should be taken in the future to ensure their continued compliance with all applicable laws.

We'll update this story as more details become available.