BIDDEFORD, Maine – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have apprehended a Jamaican national, Jon Luke Evans, who was illegally present in the country after he attempted to unlawfully purchase a firearm. The arrest took place on July 25 in Biddeford, with collaboration from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. At the time of his arrest, Evans served as a reserve police officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department.
ICE ERO Boston’s acting Field Office Director, Patricia H. Hyde, expressed significant concern regarding the incident, stating, “Jon Luke Evans not only broke U.S. immigration law, but he also illegally attempted to purchase a firearm. Shockingly, Evans was employed as a local law enforcement officer.” She emphasized that it’s troubling for a police department to employ an illegal immigrant and provide him a firearm, highlighting an important issue of compliance with immigration laws within law enforcement agencies.
Evans admitted to officers that his attempt to buy the firearm was linked to his role as a police officer. This attempt triggered an alert for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which prompted collaborative action with ICE for his arrest.
Originally, Evans entered the U.S. lawfully on September 24, 2023, at Miami International Airport; however, he overstayed his visa and failed to board a scheduled departure flight on October 1, 2023.
The situation bears similarities to a prior incident from April, when ICE arrested Gratien Milandou Wamba, a Congolese citizen unlawfully present in the U.S. and working as a corrections officer, after he also attempted to illegally acquire a firearm. These cases raise critical questions about the hiring practices of law enforcement agencies and the importance of stringent immigration enforcement to ensure public safety.
Public awareness is encouraged, with citizens urged to report suspicious activity or crimes by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE or using the online tip form. ICE emphasizes its commitment to safeguarding communities and ensuring that those who threaten public safety are held accountable.