ICE says that Jon Luke Evans is in the US illegally, and broke the law when he tried to purchase a gun. But the Old Orchard Beach police chief says Evans' legal status was verified by the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Old Orchard Beach police, who hired him as a summer employee, said federal officials cleared him to work in May.

ICE accused the police department in Old Orchard Beach of “knowingly” hiring an immigrant who is in the country illegally, which the police chief denied.