Father of deployed USS Lincoln sailor detained by ICE, sparking outrage

The father of a U.S. Navy sailor serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, was detained by federal immigration authorities in Key West, Florida, sparking widespread concern. Aviles Roa, a native of Nicaragua, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol during a vehicle stop. His son, Joshua Aviles, who was deployed in the Middle East for over nine months, shared his distress on social media, highlighting that his father possessed a driver's license, Social Security card, and work permit, and was awaiting approval for his green card.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest, stating that Aviles Roa had entered the U.S. illegally and would remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending deportation proceedings. DHS emphasized that military family ties do not exempt individuals from immigration laws. The incident drew significant attention, partly due to the unusually long deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which had spent over 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, leading to concerns about the well-being of its crew.