Father of USS Lincoln sailor arrested by ICE while son deployed in Middle East

The father of a U.S. Navy sailor serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East has been detained by federal immigration authorities. Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, a 48-year-old originally from Nicaragua, was taken into custody by Border Patrol during a traffic stop in Key West, Florida. His son, Joshua Aviles, is currently nine months into a deployment that has reportedly faced challenging conditions.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Aviles Roa entered the country illegally and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. While his family maintains he has lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades with a work permit, Social Security card, and driver's license, and was awaiting green card approval, DHS stated that having a military family member does not exempt individuals from immigration laws.

Joshua Aviles expressed profound distress over his father's detention, noting the difficulty of maintaining focus on his demanding duties while worrying about his father's situation. This incident highlights concerns regarding immigration policies under the current administration, which have reportedly led to the detention of dozens of spouses and parents of active-duty service members.