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FIRST ON FOX – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained a Jamaican national accused of trying to buy a firearm illegally while working as a reserve police officer in Old Orchard Beach.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston reported that Jon Luke Evans was arrested with the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after his attempt to purchase a firearm raised concerns about his immigration status on July 25 in Biddeford.
Federal authorities stated that Evans legally entered the United States through Miami International Airport on Sept. 24, 2023, on a visa that required him to leave by Oct. 1, 2023. He did not depart as required and has been residing in the country unlawfully since then.
During the investigation, Evans allegedly stated that he was trying to purchase the firearm for use in his position with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department.
The arrest of Evans raises questions about how an individual without legal immigration status was able to be hired by a local police agency and potentially issued a department-issued weapon, according to ICE officials.
“This case raises serious concerns,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ERO Boston. “We will continue working to ensure that individuals who violate immigration laws and pose potential threats to public safety are held accountable.”
The arrest of Evans follows a similar case from April, in which ICE officers apprehended another illegal immigrant law enforcement employee in Falmouth, Maine.
Gratien Milandou Wamba, a 32-year-old Congolese national, was working as a corrections officer when he was detained by ICE for immigration violations after allegedly trying to purchase a firearm illegally.
“Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston field office arrested Gratien Milandou Wamba, an illegally present, 32-year-old citizen of Congo,” ICE Spokesperson James Covington, noting the arrest stemmed from an unlawful firearm purchase attempt.
ICE emphasized that it will continue enforcement efforts across New England, working in coordination with other federal agencies to identify and apprehend individuals in violation of U.S. immigration laws, especially those employed in sensitive public safety positions.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
