Maine police officer arrested by ICE agrees to voluntarily leave the country

Jon Luke Evans, a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in Maine, has agreed to voluntarily leave the U. S. after being arrested by ICE for overstaying his visa. His arrest on July 25 ignited a dispute between local officials and federal authorities regarding his employment eligibility. Police Chief Elise Chard emphasized that the department had previously received confirmation from federal officials that Evans was legally authorized to work.

An ICE representative confirmed that a judge granted Evans voluntary departure, allowing him to leave at his own expense to avoid deportation. The town utilized the E-Verify program to check Evans' employment eligibility, but Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin condemned the town's reliance on the system. ICE officials alleged that Evans unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm, complicating his case further. As of Monday, Evans was being held at an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts, and it is unclear if he has legal representation. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between local law enforcement and immigration enforcement agencies in the U.

S.