Joshua Aviles, a U.S. Navy sailor currently serving his ninth month aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, recently shared that his father, Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, was arrested by federal immigration officials. The sailor, who has been stationed in the Middle East, expressed deep distress over the situation while navigating the challenges of his long-term deployment.
In a social media post shared this past weekend, Aviles described his father as a hardworking and humble man. He noted the emotional toll of the news, stating, “I don’t know how I can mentally continue working 12+ hour days knowing that my dad is somewhere, possibly being treated like a criminal.”
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Aviles Roa, a Nicaraguan national, was apprehended by Border Patrol during a traffic stop in Key West, Florida, on Saturday. Officials stated that he entered the country illegally and is currently held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody while awaiting deportation proceedings.
While the family maintains that Aviles Roa has no criminal record, the Department of Homeland Security asserted that having a family member in the military does not exempt individuals from immigration enforcement. In a statement released Sunday, the department emphasized that it is simply enforcing laws passed by Congress and does not select which regulations to uphold.
Katty Delgado, the sailor’s half-sister, explained that her stepfather was driving to a mechanic when the arrest occurred. She noted that he has resided in the United States for approximately two decades and has a pending application for legal status. Delgado added that communication with her brother has been sporadic due to his deployment, but he remains deeply preoccupied with his father’s welfare.
The arrest occurs as immigration enforcement operations targeting military families have become more frequent under the second Trump administration. Recent policy changes have rescinded previous limitations on arrests by ICE and Border Patrol, making any individual in the country illegally vulnerable to deportation proceedings regardless of their family ties to the armed forces.
Aviles reflected on his service in his public statement, writing, “I’ve been deployed for over nine months, out at sea in the Middle East aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, fighting for a country that has given me everything.” The aircraft carrier, which has faced scrutiny regarding crew conditions and mental health support, departed the Middle East last week and is currently in transit back to the United States. The report also notes that i just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE. The report also notes that but said that “(h)aving a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws, dHS did not dispute the family’s statements that Aviles lacks a criminal record. The report also notes that for roughly 20 years and that he has a pending immigration application to obtain legal status. The report also notes that his mind is focused now on ‘Where is my dad. The report also notes that the aircraft carrier and its roughly 5,000 crew members left the Middle East last week to head back to the U.S. The report also notes that a journey that could take several weeks. The report also notes that how a teen found “a sense of control” as she fought cancer. The report also notes that of drug trafficking abruptly resigns again.
Source: CBS News
