Jamaican police officer in Maine to voluntarily leave US after ICE arrest

A Jamaican reserve police officer serving in Maine has agreed to voluntarily leave the United States following his arrest by immigration authorities, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Monday.

- Advertisement -
728x90 Joy and Happiness

Jon Luke Evans, a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, was arrested on July 25 as part of ICE’s stepped-up enforcement efforts. Town and police officials previously said federal authorities had told them Evans was legally authorized to work in the U.S. But according to ICE, Evans legally entered the United States in September 2023, then violated the terms of his visa by failing to depart the country in October as scheduled. According to the agency, Evans admitted he had tried to purchase a firearm for his job as a police officer, triggering a federal alert and his subsequent arrest.

An ICE representative told The Associated Press that a judge granted Evans voluntary departure, allowing him to leave the country at his own expense rather than face deportation. Officials did not provide details on when Evans would depart.

Evans’ arrest sparked a dispute between Old Orchard Beach officials and ICE. Police Chief Elise Chard said the department had verified Evans’ status through the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program, while Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin accused the town of “reckless reliance” on the system.

E-Verify is an online platform employers use to confirm if workers are legally authorized for employment in the U.S.

“The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment,” Chard said Monday in a statement. “We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility.”

By agreeing to voluntary departure, he avoids a formal deportation order.

Evans was being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island before being transferred to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. It remains unclear if he is represented by an attorney.

More Stories

Lazah Current

Music industry mourns passing of reggae singer Lazah Current

The reggae fraternity is mourning the untimely passing of Jamaican/Canadian singer and producer Lazah Current, also known as Hal Duggan. Duggan passed away at...
Ronley Bynoe

Guyanese national Ronley Bynoe extradited to US on multiple fraud charges

Guyanese national Ronley Floyd Bynoe has been extradited to the United States to face multiple fraud-related charges stemming from 2023, according to Director of...

ICE deports Jamaican man convicted in 2009 Bronx murder

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported a Jamaican national convicted of murder in New York, more than a decade after the fatal...
Alsion Roach Wilson

Bleu & Bougie to honor former Jamaican CG to New York Alsion Roach Wilson

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, Jamaican diaspora leadership will be celebrated when New York party brand Bleu & Bougie posthumously presents its inaugural Alsion...
Chef Shorne Benjamin

From St. Lucia to Brooklyn: Chef Shorne Benjamin reinvents Caribbean cuisine with Fat Fowl

At the intersection of culture, craft, and entrepreneurship stands Chef Shorne Benjamin, the St. Lucian-born culinary innovator behind Fat Fowl, a Downtown Brooklyn restaurant...

Reggae Month and Black History Month celebrations spotlight Caribbean excellence

February’s observances of Reggae Month in Jamaica and Black History Month across the United States brought a wave of tributes, awards, and historic moments...
Global Jamaica Diaspora Council

Opinion: Independent Jamaican diaspora authority needed

Since 2004, Jamaica’s government has made structured attempts to formalize engagement with its diaspora, which is estimated to be larger than the population living...
Kevaughn Goldson

Jamaican sprinter Kevaughn Goldson killed in US domestic stabbing

The passing of former Kingston College student-athlete Kevaughn Goldson has sent shockwaves through the school community and Jamaica’s sporting fraternity after the 23-year-old was...
tax refunds

US tax refunds can help diaspora support Hurricane Melissa recovery in Jamaica

The 2026 tax filing season in the United States presents a timely and practical opportunity for diasporans and other individuals to support ongoing Hurricane...
Andy Ballentine

Jamaican artist Andy Ballentine makes history at New York Fashion Week 2026

Jamaican-born visual artist Andy Ballentine made history during New York Fashion Week 2026, becoming the first fine artist exhibitor featured by The Bureau at...

Latest Articles