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NBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Maine town denies it did not properly vet reserve officer arrested by ICE
A Maine resort town is challenging the Trump administration's criticism of its police department after a seasonal reserve officer was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week. The incident is putting renewed focus on the accuracy of E-Verify, the system the federal government created for employers to check if prospective employees have legal authorization to work in the United States. Federal immigration officials have asserted that the Old Orchard Beach Police Department either 'knowingly' hired an unauthorized immigrant as a reserve officer or did not do enough independent verification of the man's status. The department has said it thoroughly checked the background of Jon-Luke Evans, and he was approved to work there as an officer in May through the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify Program. ICE said it arrested Evans, a Jamaican citizen, last Friday after he unlawfully attempted to buy a firearm, triggering an alert with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which worked with ICE to make the arrest. ICE said that Evans overstayed a visa that required him to leave in October 2023. But the town's police department said E-verify cleared Evans' work eligibility until March of 2030. 'The Old Orchard Beach Police Department follows all of the pre-employment guidelines expected of an employer in the State of Maine and in the U.S., and we are providing this additional information in response to statements made by certain federal agencies that only work to undermine public trust and confidence in municipal law enforcement,' the town's manager, Diana Asanza, said in a joint statement with the police department on Wednesday evening. 'Today, the Department of Homeland Security doubled down on its attack, but in doing so has thrown its own electronic verification system into question. If we should not trust the word of the federal computer system that verifies documents and employment eligibility, what good is that system?' Asanza said. The joint statement came after DHS said earlier Wednesday that using E-Verify 'does not absolve employers of their legal duty to verify documentation authenticity, and all employers should take necessary steps to effectively verify legal employment status.' 'The Old Orchard Beach Police Department's reckless reliance on E-Verify to justify arming an illegal alien, Jon Luke Evans, violates federal law, and does not absolve them of their failure to conduct basic background checks to verify legal status,' DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in the statement. McLaughlin also defended the E-Verify system, saying it 'is a proven, no-cost tool that delivers high accuracy in verifying work authorization by cross-checking employee documents against government databases to combat rampant document fraud and protecting American workers.' E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration. After McLaughlin issued the DHS statement, Old Orchard Beach released a statement of its own detailing the steps it took to verify Evans' immigration status and eligibility to work. The town said that before the police department hired Evans, it compiled a 153-page personnel file on him that included background checks, driving records, copies of identification cards, education and medical records, and personal references. Evans provided required information including an I-9 federal immigration and work authorization form, as well as his Jamaican birth certificate, Massachusetts driver's license, U.S. social security card, work authorization card, among other documents, according to the statement. 'The Old Orchard Beach Police Department thoroughly checked Mr. Evans' background and verified that all information and documentation he provided was accurate. The depth of his personnel file shows the diligence the Town takes in hiring,' Police Chief Elise Chard said. It said it then submitted Evans' forms to DHS' E-Verify program, and in May the federal agency verified Evans' status and said he was authorized to work legally through March 19, 2030. 'Evans would not have been permitted to begin work in Old Orchard Beach without DHS verifying his status. The federal government has aggressively pushed all employers — government and private — to rely on E-Verify in the hiring process,' the town and police department said. 'Simply stated, had the federal government flagged his information the Town would not have hired Mr. Evans,' Chard said. 'Any insinuation that the Town and Department were derelict in our efforts to verify Mr. Evans' eligibility to work for the Town is false and appears to be an attempt to shift the blame onto a hard-working local law enforcement agency that has done its job.' The policed released 54 pages of his personnel file, which NBC News has reviewed, showing records related to his police department application process, which state that employment is conditional upon a background check, the submission of mandatory paperwork, drug screening and mandatory training sessions. The records also show Evans was required to provide two valid forms of ID for payroll processing and that he passed all of his training sessions before he was approved to work as a reserve officer. The documents also include Evans' résumé and educational records. DHS did not respond to requests for comment on the Old Orchard Beach town and police department statement. It also did not share what steps and methods, beyond E-Verify, it suggests local police departments and other employers use to independently verify an immigrant applicant's legal status and work authorization. ICE had accused the police department of 'knowingly breaking the law' and hiring an immigrant in the country illegally. The police department denied the claim, saying the federal government's own system had approved the man to work as a reserve officer. Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, a Democrat who represents Old Orchard Beach in the state's House of Representatives, said in a statement to NBC News on Thursday that in light of the conflicting accounts, she was calling for a thorough federal review of E-Verify and DHS' authorization process 'that allowed Officer Evans to begin work in good faith in May 2025. 'This incident highlights the importance and necessity of reliable federal systems to support the lawful employment of noncitizen residents in community-serving roles,' she said. 'We must do better to prevent such situations in the future, protect community trust and ensure fairness and accountability.' Maine is one of about a dozen states that allow noncitizens to work in law enforcement. Some require the immigrant to be a green-card holder, while others, such as Maine, require the immigrant to be legally authorized to work in the U.S. The town has said that its police department, like many in coastal communities, uses a seasonal supplementary workforce when the population surges in the summer months. Maine has some 34,000 immigrant workers, or 4.6% of the state's labor force, according to the American Immigration Council. There are also an estimated 5,800 unauthorized immigrants of working age in the state, according to the council.
Boston Globe
7 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Old Orchard Beach police say DHS ‘shifting blame' to them in ICE arrest of summer officer from Jamaica
Chard said her department completed a thorough background check on Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican citizen, who was hired as a summer reserve officer in May, and submitted his I-9 forms to the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify Program. Chard said DHS reported Evans' status on May 12 as 'Alien Authorized to Work' and validated his Customs and Immigration Form I-766, showing he could hold legal employment through March 19, 2030. But federal officials said Evans overstayed his visa by nearly two years, and Advertisement In a lengthy statement Wednesday detailing the town's hiring process for Evans, Old Orchard Beach officials said Evans would not have been permitted to begin work without DHS verifying his status. 'Simply stated, had the federal government flagged his information the Town would not have hired Mr. Evans,' Chard said in the statement. 'Any insinuation that the Town and Department were derelict in our efforts to verify Mr. Evans' eligibility to work for the Town is false.' Advertisement Earlier Wednesday, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for DHS, said in a statement that the police department's 'reckless reliance on E-Verify to justify arming an illegal alien, Jon Luke Evans violates federal law, and does not absolve them of their failure to conduct basic background checks to verify legal status.' Old Orchard Beach officials, however, said the federal government has 'aggressively pushed all employers – government and private – to rely on E-Verify in the hiring process." Town manager Diana Asanza said the Department of Homeland Security 'has thrown its own electronic verification system into question' by accusing the town of hiring an unauthorized worker. 'If we should not trust the word of the federal computer system that verifies documents and employment eligibility, what good is that system?' Asanza said in the statement. Town officials said they compiled a 153-page personnel file on Evans that included his background check documents, driving records, copies of identification cards, education records, references, and medical records. Community Service Officers from the Old Orchard Beach Police Dept. patrol on bicycles on Tuesday in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press 'The Old Orchard Beach Police Department thoroughly checked Mr. Evans' background and verified that all information and documentation he provided was accurate,' Chard said. 'The depth of his personnel file shows the diligence the Town takes in hiring.' In addition to his I-9 federal immigration and work authorization form and a resume, Chard said Evans also provided his Jamaican birth certificate, Massachusetts drivers' license, Jamaican passport, U.S. Social Security card, U.S Work Authorization card, and proof of college credit. Town officials said they also checked Maine's criminal history database and the Interstate Identification Index, a database of state and federal criminal histories that is maintained by the FBI and National Crime Information Center, as part of their background check on Evans, according to the town's statement. Advertisement Evans also passed a physical fitness test, a drug test, a health exam, and completed the Maine Criminal Justice Academy ALERT test, 'which ensures candidates have the comprehension and writing skills needed to succeed in law enforcement,' Old Orchard Beach officials said. Maine is one of about a dozen states that allows non-citizen residents to work in law enforcement, according to the police department. Evans legally arrived in the US via Miami International Airport on Sept. 24, 2023, but failed to board his return flight to Jamaica a week later on Oct. 1, 2023, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement Monday. His attempt to buy a gun triggered an alert to agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who worked in coordination with ICE to make the arrest, the statement said. In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Chard said Evans was a trusted member of the force who had the respect of his peers. She said his arrest has been dispiriting for their department, which relies on seasonal help during the busy summer months. She said Evans has a wife who continues to live locally. 'I'm hoping that this can be resolved and there will be a finding of no wrongdoing on anybody's part and he can go on with his life the way he intended,' Chard said. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Nick Stoico can be reached at
30-07-2025
- Politics
Officer arrested by ICE is missed by colleagues and was eligible to work
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine -- The police officer arrested by immigration authorities in a Maine town was a trusted member of the force who is missed by his colleagues, officials said Wednesday, expressing frustration with the lack of information about the case from the federal government. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25. The agency, which has been ramping up arrests across the country to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations, said Evans overstayed his visa and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm. Police Chief Elise Chard said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has verified that Evans was federally approved to work in the country in May and that the town and police department haven't received any information about Evans' case, his current whereabouts or whether he is represented by an attorney. ICE officials did not respond to email and phone request for comment Wednesday. Evans had the respect of his peers and quickly became a valued officer, and his arrest has been dispiriting for a department that relies on seasonal help during the busy summer months, Chard said. She said Evans has a wife who continues to live locally. 'I'm hoping that this can be resolved and there will be a finding of no wrongdoing on anybody's part and he can go on with his life the way he intended," Chard said. Chard said the department was notified by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country and his authorization document would not expire until 2030. She said the town submitted information via the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify Program prior to Evans' employment. E-Verify is an online system launched in the late 1990s that allows employers to check if potential employees can work legally in the U.S. Some large private employers use it, but most do not. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin told WMTW-TV that use of E-Verify "does not absolve employers of their legal duty" to verify legal employment status. 'The Old Orchard Beach Police Department's reckless reliance on E-Verify to justify arming an illegal alien, Jon Luke Evans, violates federal law, and does not absolve them of their failure to conduct basic background checks to verify legal status,' McLaughlin told the station. Town manager Diana Asanza said the Department of Homeland Security 'has thrown its own electronic verification system into question' by accusing the town of hiring an unauthorized worker. "If we should not trust the word of the federal computer system that verifies documents and employment eligibility, what good is that system?' Asanza said. ICE said in a Monday statement that Evans admitted to its officers that he attempted to purchase a firearm for his employment as a police officer with the town. That triggered an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which coordinated with ICE to make the arrest, the agency said in a statement. Evans initially entered the country legally and was scheduled to depart the U.S. in October 2023 but never boarded his departing flight, the statement says. He then overstayed his visa, it says. Chard has said the police department is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Maine Assistant House Majority Leader Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, an Old Orchard Beach Democrat, said she is calling for federal review of the E-Verify and DHS authorization process that allowed Evans to begin work in May. She said in a statement that she also wants 'clearer protocols to ensure that local law enforcement is formally notified in advance of any actions involving its personnel.'
San Francisco Chronicle
30-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Maine police chief says officer arrested by ICE is missed by colleagues and was eligible to work
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine (AP) — The police officer arrested by immigration authorities in a Maine town was a trusted member of the force who is missed by his colleagues, officials said Wednesday, expressing frustration with the lack of information about the case from the federal government. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25. The agency, which has been ramping up arrests across the country to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations, said Evans overstayed his visa and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm. Police Chief Elise Chard said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has verified that Evans was federally approved to work in the country in May and that the town and police department haven't received any information about Evans' case, his current whereabouts or whether he is represented by an attorney. ICE officials did not respond to email and phone request for comment Wednesday. Evans had the respect of his peers and quickly became a valued officer, and his arrest has been dispiriting for a department that relies on seasonal help during the busy summer months, Chard said. She said Evans has a wife who continues to live locally. 'I'm hoping that this can be resolved and there will be a finding of no wrongdoing on anybody's part and he can go on with his life the way he intended," Chard said. Chard said the department was notified by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country and his authorization document would not expire until 2030. She said the town submitted information via the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify Program prior to Evans' employment. E-Verify is an online system launched in the late 1990s that allows employers to check if potential employees can work legally in the U.S. Some large private employers use it, but most do not. 'The Old Orchard Beach Police Department's reckless reliance on E-Verify to justify arming an illegal alien, Jon Luke Evans, violates federal law, and does not absolve them of their failure to conduct basic background checks to verify legal status,' McLaughlin told the station. Town manager Diana Asanza said the Department of Homeland Security 'has thrown its own electronic verification system into question' by accusing the town of hiring an unauthorized worker. "If we should not trust the word of the federal computer system that verifies documents and employment eligibility, what good is that system?' Asanza said. ICE said in a Monday statement that Evans admitted to its officers that he attempted to purchase a firearm for his employment as a police officer with the town. That triggered an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which coordinated with ICE to make the arrest, the agency said in a statement. Evans initially entered the country legally and was scheduled to depart the U.S. in October 2023 but never boarded his departing flight, the statement says. He then overstayed his visa, it says. Chard has said the police department is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Maine Assistant House Majority Leader Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, an Old Orchard Beach Democrat, said she is calling for federal review of the E-Verify and DHS authorization process that allowed Evans to begin work in May. She said in a statement that she also wants 'clearer protocols to ensure that local law enforcement is formally notified in advance of any actions involving its personnel.'
Winnipeg Free Press
30-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Maine police chief says officer arrested by ICE is missed by colleagues and was eligible to work
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine (AP) — The police officer arrested by immigration authorities in a Maine town was a trusted member of the force who is missed by his colleagues, officials said Wednesday, expressing frustration with the lack of information about the case from the federal government. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25. The agency, which has been ramping up arrests across the country to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations, said Evans overstayed his visa and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm. Police Chief Elise Chard said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has verified that Evans was federally approved to work in the country in May and that the town and police department haven't received any information about Evans' case, his current whereabouts or whether he is represented by an attorney. ICE officials did not respond to email and phone request for comment Wednesday. Evans had the respect of his peers and quickly became a valued officer, and his arrest has been dispiriting for a department that relies on seasonal help during the busy summer months, Chard said. She said Evans has a wife who continues to live locally. 'I'm hoping that this can be resolved and there will be a finding of no wrongdoing on anybody's part and he can go on with his life the way he intended,' Chard said. Chard said the department was notified by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country and his authorization document would not expire until 2030. She said the town submitted information via the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify Program prior to Evans' employment. E-Verify is an online system launched in the late 1990s that allows employers to check if potential employees can work legally in the U.S. Some large private employers use it, but most do not. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin told WMTW-TV that use of E-Verify 'does not absolve employers of their legal duty' to verify legal employment status. 'The Old Orchard Beach Police Department's reckless reliance on E-Verify to justify arming an illegal alien, Jon Luke Evans, violates federal law, and does not absolve them of their failure to conduct basic background checks to verify legal status,' McLaughlin told the station. Town manager Diana Asanza said the Department of Homeland Security 'has thrown its own electronic verification system into question' by accusing the town of hiring an unauthorized worker. 'If we should not trust the word of the federal computer system that verifies documents and employment eligibility, what good is that system?' Asanza said. ICE said in a Monday statement that Evans admitted to its officers that he attempted to purchase a firearm for his employment as a police officer with the town. That triggered an alert to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which coordinated with ICE to make the arrest, the agency said in a statement. Evans initially entered the country legally and was scheduled to depart the U.S. in October 2023 but never boarded his departing flight, the statement says. He then overstayed his visa, it says. Chard has said the police department is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Maine Assistant House Majority Leader Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, an Old Orchard Beach Democrat, said she is calling for federal review of the E-Verify and DHS authorization process that allowed Evans to begin work in May. She said in a statement that she also wants 'clearer protocols to ensure that local law enforcement is formally notified in advance of any actions involving its personnel.'
