The ICE crackdowns are not slowing down. They’re putting it all on the line to deport criminal illegal immigrants.
But an ICE raid took a strange turn when arresting a Jamaican illegal alien.
ICE Arrests Illegal Immigrant Posing as Maine Police Officer
On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disclosed the arrest of an illegal immigrant who had been working as a reserve police officer in Maine while attempting to illegally purchase a firearm. Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national, was employed by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department when authorities apprehended him on July 25. ICE and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were notified after Evans tried to acquire a firearm unlawfully.
“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. We have a police department that was knowingly breaking the very law they are charged with enforcing in order to employ an illegal alien,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from our New England communities.”
According to ICE, Evans legally entered the U.S. via Miami International Airport on September 24, 2023, but became an illegal immigrant after his visa expired on October 1, 2023. The Old Orchard Beach Police Department noted that Evans was hired in May as a summer reserve officer. The department claimed it verified multiple identification documents and submitted his I-9 work authorization form to the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system, which approved it on May 12.
“Evans passed all physical and medical checks, passed a background check, was approved by Homeland Security to work in the United States, and underwent the standard course of training for a reserve officer before he was deployed on duty,” said Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard. “Reserve officers face a lengthy probation period, and Evans’ probationary employment status is now under review.”
Reserve officers in the department are tasked with beach patrol and community policing duties, receive firearm training, and are issued a department firearm. However, they are prohibited from taking the firearm home or carrying personal firearms while on duty.
Maine is one of several states permitting non-citizens to serve in law enforcement roles. In April, ICE arrested a Congolese illegal immigrant working as a corrections officer in Falmouth, Maine, after he allegedly attempted to purchase a firearm illegally.
Trump Administration’s Crackdown on Illegal Border Crossings
The Trump administration has implemented stringent measures to curb illegal border crossings, yielding measurable results in recent years. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicates a significant decline in illegal border apprehensions since the administration’s policies were reinstated. In 2025, CBP reported approximately 400,000 apprehensions of migrants at the southern border, a 60% decrease from the 1 million apprehensions recorded in 2023, before the administration’s enhanced enforcement measures took effect.
A cornerstone of the administration’s strategy has been the expansion of border wall construction. By mid-2025, over 500 miles of new or reinforced border barriers have been completed, particularly in high-traffic areas along the U.S.-Mexico border. CBP data shows that sectors with new wall systems, such as Yuma and El Paso, have seen apprehensions drop by up to 70% compared to 2023 levels. These physical barriers, coupled with advanced surveillance technologies like drones and motion sensors, have deterred illegal crossings.
Two teenagers are gone because of an illegal Honduran national who should not be here.
This is why mass deportations are so important. pic.twitter.com/bsuUs1VHgw
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) July 28, 2025
The administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), was reinstated in 2025. Under MPP, asylum seekers are required to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in U.S. immigration courts. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this policy has reduced the number of migrants released into the U.S. while awaiting hearings by 65%, easing the strain on border facilities and local communities.
ICE has also intensified interior enforcement, targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records or those who overstay visas, as seen in the case of Jon Luke Evans in Maine. In 2025, ICE conducted over 100,000 arrests of illegal immigrants, with 70% having prior criminal convictions, according to agency reports. This focus on removing high-risk individuals has bolstered public safety and deterred illegal immigration.
The administration’s cooperation with Central American countries has further contributed to the decline in illegal crossings. Agreements with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador have strengthened regional border security and expedited the deportation of migrants before they reach the U.S. border. CBP data shows a 50% reduction in migrant arrivals from these countries in 2025 compared to 2023.
Despite these successes, critics argue that the administration’s policies have been overly punitive, potentially discouraging legitimate asylum seekers. However, supporters point to the data: illegal crossings are at their lowest in a decade, and border patrol agents report improved morale and reduced operational strain.
The combination of physical barriers, policy reforms, and international cooperation has completely changed the future of immigration, delivering tangible results in the administration’s efforts to secure the border.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
