Arrested Jamaican officer arrested by Trump’s ICE volunteer to leave US
Officer Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican who worked for the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in the United States would now be heading home after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mopped him up in part of the raids for illegal immigrants.
An ICE representative said a judge has granted voluntary departure for Evans and that he could leave as soon as that day. The agency added that the Maine police officer agreed to voluntarily leave the country. Evans’ agreement to a voluntary departure means he will be allowed to leave the U.S. at his own expense to avoid being deported.
ICE arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25, as part of the agency’s effort to step up immigration enforcement.
Officials with the town and police department have said federal authorities previously told them Evans was legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Police Chief Elise Chard has said the department was notified by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country, and that the town submitted information via the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program prior to Evans’ employment.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin then accused the town of “reckless reliance” on the department’s E-Verify program.
E-Verify is an online system that allows employers to check if potential employees can work legally in the U.S.
“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.”
ICE officials said in July that Evans overstayed his visa and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm.
