USS Abraham Lincoln Sailor Says ICE Arrested His Father While He Was Deployed at Sea
A U.S. Navy sailor serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln says he learned that his father had been detained by immigration authorities while he was deployed at sea in the Middle East.
Joshua Aviles said in a social media post that he received a call informing him that his father, Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, had been taken into custody. Aviles said his father had a driver’s license, Social Security card and work permit and that the family had been waiting for his green card application to be approved.
Border Patrol Arrests Man in Key West
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Border Patrol arrested Aviles Roa in Key West, Florida, following a vehicle stop. The agency said he had entered the United States illegally and would remain in ICE custody while removal proceedings continue.
Aviles Roa is originally from Nicaragua. His family said he has lived in the United States for about two decades. His wife said he had no known criminal record and had left home to take his vehicle to a mechanic when he was arrested.
The sailor said he had been deployed for more than nine months aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. He described working 12-hour shifts while dealing with the news that his father was in immigration custody.
Carrier Returns After Record-Long Deployment
The aircraft carrier had been deployed to the Middle East during the conflict with Iran. Its unusually long deployment kept thousands of sailors away from their families for months. The ship recently began its return journey to the United States after spending more than 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern U.S. military record.
The detention has raised questions about how immigration enforcement can affect families of active-duty service members. Military service by one family member does not automatically provide an immigration exemption for another relative. Homeland Security has maintained that people who violate immigration laws can be detained and placed in removal proceedings regardless of their family connections.
At the same time, the case has highlighted the personal strain facing service members who are already separated from their families because of lengthy deployments. Aviles said the situation was affecting his ability to focus while continuing demanding work aboard the carrier.
The case also illustrates the difference between having certain U.S. documents and having lawful permanent resident status. A work permit or other identification does not necessarily mean that a person has a green card or is protected from immigration proceedings.
Aviles Roa is expected to remain in federal immigration custody while his removal case proceeds. The status and timing of those proceedings were not immediately clear.
His family is seeking information about his detention and immigration case. Any legal challenge, request for release or application for relief will depend on the facts of his immigration history and the applicable federal rules.
For Joshua Aviles, the immediate issue is whether his father will remain in custody when the USS Abraham Lincoln completes its return and he is reunited with his family.
