Maine Reserve Officer Agrees to Self-Deport After ICE Arrest Despite Federal Work Approval
A reserve police officer in Maine has agreed to voluntarily leave the United States after being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite having been cleared to work by federal authorities earlier this year. The case has exposed glaring contradictions in the nation’s immigration enforcement system and sparked outrage among local officials.
Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national serving with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, was taken into custody by ICE on July 25. Agents said Evans had overstayed his visa and attempted to buy a firearm without authorization. A judge granted him voluntary departure, meaning he will self-deport at his own expense rather than face formal removal proceedings.
The arrest blindsided local law enforcement. Police Chief Elise Chard revealed that in May, Evans was approved through the federal E-Verify system to work legally in the United States until 2030. The department relied on that authorization when bringing him on board. ICE’s assertion that Evans was unlawfully present directly contradicts that approval.
“This was not a case of negligence on our part,” Chief Chard said. “We followed the federal process and received clearance. The fact that ICE later came in and arrested him shows a failure in communication at the federal level.”
Legal experts emphasize that “voluntary departure” under pressure from ICE is not truly voluntary and raises serious legal concerns. Immigration attorneys note that coercing someone to leave the country without due process undermines statutory protections, and in Evans’ case, the reliance on a federal work authorization should have shielded him from such a demand. Critics argue that pushing individuals into self-deportation is an unlawful shortcut that circumvents the legal safeguards guaranteed under U.S. immigration law.
The incident has left Evans’ colleagues frustrated and shaken. Many described him as a valued officer and said the sudden removal has strained the department during the