A Jamaican national living illegally in the U.S. was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after authorities discovered he was working as a police officer in Maine — and attempted to illegally purchase a firearm.
Jon Luke Evans, who served as an officer for the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, was taken into custody after an attempted gun purchase triggered an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to Fox News.
Entered Legally, Overstayed Visa
Evans initially entered the U.S. legally in September 2023 but never boarded his return flight on October 1, 2023, making him a visa overstay and, by definition, an illegal alien.
Despite his unlawful status, Evans was hired by a police department and issued a duty firearm — an action ICE officials condemned as both reckless and illegal.
ICE Slams Police Department for Hiring Illegal Alien
“Jon Luke Evans not only broke U.S. immigration law, but he also illegally attempted to purchase a firearm,” said ICE Boston Field Director Patricia Hyde.
“The fact that a police department would hire an illegal alien and unlawfully issue him a firearm while on duty would be comical if it weren’t so tragic. We have a police department that was knowingly breaking the very law they are charged with enforcing,” she added.
Gun Clearly Visible in Photos
Photos shared on social media show Evans in uniform with a department-issued firearm. The Old Orchard Beach Police Department had even posted images of him online before his arrest.
ICE has not released information on how long Evans had been working as a police officer or what background check procedures, if any, were bypassed.
Wider Immigration Crisis Under Biden
This case adds to growing outrage over the Biden administration’s handling of immigration.
Over 20 million illegal aliens have entered the U.S. since Biden took office, and hundreds of thousands more have been granted entry under controversial parole programs for migrants from third-world countries.
Earlier this month, Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller told Fox News that over 1 million illegal aliens have already self-deported due to the changing political tide.
“At every turn, illegal aliens have always been treated better than Americans. The difference is, in this administration, they are getting a ticket out of America,” Miller said.
