Migrant Cop Jon Luke Evans Agrees to US Self-Deport

Jon Luke Evans

In a strange twist that exposes vulnerabilities in America's immigration and employment verification systems, a Jamaican national who illegally overstayed his visa and obtained a job as a reserve police officer has decided to self-deport rather than face formal removal proceedings. Jon Luke Evans, 25, appeared before an immigration judge on August 18, 2025, where he was granted voluntary departure, allowing him to leave the United States at his own expense within a set timeframe.

Evans' story started innocently: He entered the US legally on a short-term visa through Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, with a departure deadline of October 1, 2023. But he never left. Instead, by May 2025, he had joined the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in Maine as a seasonal reserve officer in the busy tourist town. The role involved completing standard hiring procedures, including background checks, physical exams, medical screenings, and law enforcement training, all of which he apparently passed.

What raises eyebrows is how Evans slipped through the cracks. The police department submitted his documents to the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system, which approved his employment eligibility with a work permit supposedly valid until March 2030. "Our department and our community relied on the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to ensure we were meeting our obligations," Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard told reporters, expressing distress over what she called an "apparent error on the part of the federal government."

E-Verify, designed to confirm workers' legal status, failed spectacularly here. Homeland Security officials later criticized the department for "reckless reliance" on the system, insisting employers must go beyond it to verify document authenticity. "Usage of E-Verify does not absolve employers of their legal duty to verify documentation authenticity," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, adding pointedly, "No illegal alien should ever be provided a firearm or serve in law enforcement, not only is it the law, it’s also basic common sense."

Evans' downfall occurred on July 25, 2025, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him after he tried to buy a firearm for his police duties. As a reserve officer, he wasn't allowed to take department-issued weapons home or carry personal firearms on duty, but the attempt revealed his illegal status. He was initially detained at Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts and was later transferred to Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island before his court hearing.

To secure voluntary departure, Evans had to admit his unlawful presence, waive any claims to legal status, and show both the intent and means to leave the country. This option avoids the harsher consequences of a deportation order, such as bans on re-entry, but still requires him to pay for his exit.

The Old Orchard Beach Police Department has reaffirmed its commitment to federal and state employment laws, vowing to continue using I-9 forms and E-Verify as the town navigates the fallout. This incident highlights ongoing debates about immigration enforcement, vetting processes, and the reliability of federal databases in an era of increased border security concerns.

As Evans prepares to return to Jamaica, questions remain about how such a breach happened and what changes could stop similar mistakes in the future. For communities like Old Orchard Beach, it's a clear reminder that even trusted systems can fail, possibly putting public safety and confidence in law enforcement at risk.