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ICE Arrest of Maine Reserve Officer Triggers Hiring and E-Verify Review

The Old Orchard Beach police chief has launched an internal investigation of its hiring checks after the department relied on Homeland Security’s E-Verify approval of Evans, who overstayed his visa.

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FILE - In this Thursday, May 7, 2020 photo, a main drag is quiet in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, just weeks before the summer tourist season starts. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Community Service Officers from the Old Orchard Beach Police Dept. patrol on bicycles, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Overview

  • Evans remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings after his July 25 ATF-triggered firearm purchase attempt.
  • The police department relied on DHS E-Verify approval of Evans’s work authorization on May 12, 2025, as part of his seasonal hiring.
  • Chief Elise Chard called the verification error distressing and opened an internal investigation into department hiring and notification protocols.
  • Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that E-Verify does not absolve employers from verifying legal work status.
  • A state representative urged a federal review of the E-Verify system and clearer advance notice requirements for local law enforcement actions.