one Maine Police officer arrested migrant Immigration Enforcement (ICE) said on Monday that authorities have agreed to leave the country voluntarily.
ICE arrested Jon Luke Evans, an old orchard beach police officer in Jamaica on July 25 as part of the agency’s strengthening of immigration enforcement. Town and police officials said federal authorities had previously told them Evans was legally authorized to work in the United States.
An ICE representative who contacted by phone told the Associated Press Monday that the judge had voluntarily left Evans and he could leave immediately that day. The representative provided no additional details about the Evans case.
Evans’ arrest resolves a dispute between Old Orchard Beach officials and the ice. Police Chief Elise Chard said federal officials informed the department that Evans worked legally in the country and that the town submitted information through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) electronic verification program. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, then accused the town of “recky” of the department’s electronic verification program.
E-Verify is an online system that allows employers to check whether potential employees can work legally in the United States.
Chad said Monday that the town knew about reports that Evans planned to leave the country voluntarily.
“The town reaffirms its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment,” Chad said in a statement. “We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Qualification Verification Form and the electronic verification database to confirm employment qualifications.”
The ICE detainee search website said Monday that Evans was held at the Donald W Wyatt detention center in Central Falls, Rhode Island. But, a Wyatt representative said Evans had been transferred to the ice rink in Burlington, Massachusetts. ICE officials did not respond to requests for comment on the differences. It is unclear whether Evans is represented by a lawyer and the messages left in the detention center have not been returned.
ICE officials said in July that Evans had overpriced their visa and was illegally trying to buy guns. Maine News Media WMTW Evans’ agreement to leave voluntarily means he will be allowed to leave the U.S. at his own expense to avoid deportation, reported Monday.
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