ICE Arrests Maine Police Officer for Illegal Immigration and Firearm Violation

Old Orchard Beach, Maine — In a case that is raising alarm across the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a newly sworn police officer in Maine after discovering he was in the country illegally and had allegedly attempted to purchase a firearm in violation of federal law.

The suspect, John Luke Evans, a Jamaican national, had entered the United States legally under a temporary visa in 2023. According to ICE, Evans overstayed that visa and was unlawfully residing in the United States at the time he was hired by the Old Orchard Police Department just one month ago.

Federal agents moved in after learning that Evans had illegally attempted to purchase a firearm, an act that violates 8 U.S. Code § 922(g)(5), which prohibits undocumented immigrants from owning, purchasing, or possessing any firearms or ammunition. Despite his status, Evans allegedly claimed that his appointment as a police officer gave him the authority to carry a weapon.

ICE officials disagreed, stating unequivocally that “the Old Orchard Police Department literally broke the very law they were sworn to uphold” by hiring Evans. Legal experts suggest this could prompt a federal investigation into the department’s hiring practices and screening protocols.

The Old Orchard Police Department has since responded, stating that Maine law does allow non-citizens to serve as law enforcement officers, and that Evans’ documents appeared valid at the time of his hiring. However, the department did not address the allegation that Evans had overstayed a temporary visa, nor did they clarify whether any background check flagged his immigration status.

This case has ignited renewed scrutiny of both local police hiring policies and the enforcement of federal immigration law, especially when those entrusted with public safety are themselves in violation of it.

ICE has not yet released information on whether any charges have been filed beyond immigration violations, but possession or attempted purchase of a firearm by an illegal alien carries both criminal and immigration consequences.

As the country continues to debate the future of immigration enforcement, this case underscores the need for greater oversight and consistency in vetting law enforcement hires, especially in jurisdictions where state-level employment policies diverge from federal immigration law.

Whittier 360 will continue to follow this case as it develops and report on whether a formal federal investigation into the Old Orchard Police Department is launched.