A Jamaican police officer in Maine who was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has agreed to voluntarily leave the country, ICE said on Monday. Jon Luke Evans, a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach police department, was detained on 25 July as part of heightened immigration enforcement.
Evans had been employed after federal databases confirmed his eligibility to work, according to town and police officials. However, ICE accused him of overstaying his visa and unlawfully attempting to buy a firearm. A judge has granted voluntary departure, allowing Evans to leave at his own expense to avoid deportation.
The arrest sparked a dispute between local officials and ICE. Police Chief Elise Chard stated the department relied on the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system, which confirmed Evans's work authorization. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of homeland security, criticised the town's 'reckless reliance' on the programme.
Evans was initially held in Rhode Island but later transferred to an ICE facility in Massachusetts. It remains unclear if he has legal representation. The town reaffirmed its commitment to following federal employment laws.
