MAINE,  United States (CMC) – The United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says officers in the state of Maine have arrested an illegal Jamaican national after he unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm, in a twist,  despite his immigration status, the man had been employed as a reserve cop.

ICE said officers with its Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested Jon Luke Evans, 25, in Biddeford, Maine.

At the time of his arrest, Evans was employed as a reserve police officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department.

“Jon Luke Evans not only broke US immigration law, but he also illegally attempted to purchase a firearm,” said ICE ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde.

“Shockingly, Evans was employed as a local law enforcement officer.”

“The fact that a police department would hire an illegal alien and unlawfully issue him a firearm while on duty would be comical if it weren’t so tragic,” she added. “We have a police department that was knowingly breaking the very law they are charged with enforcing in order to employ an illegal alien.

“ICE Boston will continue to prioritise public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from our New England communities,” Hyde continued.

She said Evans admitted to ICE officers that he attempted to purchase the firearm for his employment as a police officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department.

“His attempt to purchase the firearm triggered an alert to ATF agents, who worked in coordination with ICE to make the arrest,” ICE said.

Evans lawfully entered the United States September 24, 2023, at the Miami International Airport, in Florida.

“However, he violated the terms of his lawful admission when he overstayed his visa,” ICE said.

Evans was scheduled to depart the US on October 1, 2023, but never boarded the flight.

In a very similar case in April, ICE said officers in Falmouth, Massachusetts, arrested Gratien Milandou Wamba, an illegally present, 32-year-old citizen of Congo, who was working as a corrections officer.

ICE said officers with its Boston’s Scarborough, Maine sub-office arrested Milandou Wamba for immigration violations after he allegedly illegally attempted to purchase a firearm.