Immigration

From badge to deportation: Police officer arrested by ICE will leave the country

An policeman got the shock of a lifetime when he was deported from the United States.

Amanda Mason

Born in Leeds, Joe finished his Spanish degree in 2018 before becoming an English teacher to football (soccer) players and managers, as well as collaborating with various football media outlets in English and Spanish. He joined AS in 2022 and covers both the men’s and women’s game across Europe and beyond.

Update: Aug 20th, 2025 05:12 EDT

In Trump’s America, nobody is safe, not even those who enforce his draconian laws. In late July 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Jon Luke Evans, a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Originally from Jamaica, Evans was taken into custody on July 25 due to overstaying his visa and allegedly attempting to buy a firearm — actions that brought his employment status into question by the authorities.

For the Old Orchard Beach police department, Evans’s arrest was the start of a dispute between themselves and ICE. Chief Elise Chard was sure that, in May 2025, federal authorities had confirmed Evans’s legal work eligibility via the E-Verify system, showing authorisation valid through 2030.

Along with the clearance, the department had also undertaken the necessary background, physical, and medical checks before bringing Evans on board as a seasonal reserve officer.

Eight former New York judges filed an amicus brief detailing how ICE courthouse arrests are harming New York’s legal system. Read: https://t.co/3EzWkEQWra pic.twitter.com/b4DwJ4q0yn
— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) August 19, 2025

“The town reiterates its commitment to meeting all laws”

“The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment,” Chard said in a statement. “We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility.” E-Verify is a system that allows employers to check if potential employees can work legally in the country.

The department expressed frustration over a seeming discrepancy between the federal clearance and ICE’s enforcement action, calling for a formal review of official procedures.

Following his arrest, Evans agreed to a voluntary departure from the U.S. rather than face formal deportation. Under this arrangement, he will leave the country at his own expense within a prescribed timeframe, relinquishing the option to seek legal status.