The father of a U.S. Navy sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln now faces immigration detention.
Authorities arrested Luis Manuel Aviles Roa in Key West, Florida. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest on Sunday.
Aviles Roa originally came from Nicaragua. U.S. Border Patrol officers stopped his vehicle before making the arrest.
His son, Joshua Aviles, serves aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The aircraft carrier recently operated in the Middle East during the Iran war.
Joshua said he had spent more than nine months at sea. He also said he works more than 12 hours a day during his deployment.
Then he received a call about his father.
“I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE,” Joshua wrote in a Facebook post.
He said his father had a driver’s license, Social Security card and work permit.
Joshua also said his family had worked through the immigration system. They had applied for his father’s green card and were waiting for a decision.
“This is heartbreaking for me,” Joshua wrote.
He said the situation made it difficult to focus on his military duties. He also worried about how authorities might treat his father.
DHS Defends Immigration Arrest
The Department of Homeland Security said Aviles Roa entered the United States illegally.
DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement will keep him in custody during his removal case.
The agency also rejected any special exemption for military families.
“Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws,” DHS said.
The Trump administration has expanded immigration enforcement across the United States. Officials say the crackdown aims to improve border security and enforce immigration laws.
Rights groups have strongly criticized the policy. They argue that some enforcement actions threaten due process and civil rights.
Advocates have also raised concerns about racial profiling. They say aggressive immigration enforcement can create fear among immigrant communities.
USS Abraham Lincoln Completes Long Deployment
The case comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln ends a lengthy period at sea.
The carrier left the Middle East on Saturday. According to Democratic lawmakers, the ship spent more than 200 days at sea without making a port call.
That period set a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, lawmakers said.
Families of sailors had raised concerns about the demanding deployment. Some lawmakers later called for answers about the conditions facing the crew.
The detention of Joshua’s father adds another challenge for the deployed sailor.
Joshua must now balance his military duties with concerns about his family. His public message has also drawn attention to the difficulties military families can face during immigration proceedings.
Aviles Roa will remain in the immigration system while authorities consider his case.
The case also highlights the complex issues that can arise when immigration enforcement affects the families of U.S. military personnel.
