Detention of Sailor’s Father Highlights Immigration Policies

The father of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was detained by immigration officials on Saturday. Luis Manuel Aviles, originally from Nicaragua, was taken into custody in Key West, Florida, where he resides. Aviles has lived in the U.S. for around 20 years, and his stepdaughter, Katty Delgado, expressed that he has no known criminal history.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Aviles was arrested during a traffic stop by Border Patrol. Aviles entered the U.S. illegally on an unspecified date and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. The DHS stated, “We are simply enforcing the laws passed by Congress.”

Delgado learned about the detention from family members such as Aviles’ wife and his son, Joshua Aviles, who shared the news on Facebook. Joshua Aviles, serving on the USS Abraham Lincoln, expressed pain over his father’s situation. He described his father as hard-working and humble, possessing a work permit, Social Security card, and driver’s license.

Joshua issued a heartfelt message via Facebook, describing the emotional toll of knowing his father might be treated like a criminal. DHS clarified to Telemundo that a work permit or pending application does not confer legal status in the U.S.

The USS Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego on November 25 and broke the Navy’s record for time spent at sea without a port visit. The carrier’s return journey from the Middle East to the West Coast could extend over a month.

President Donald Trump has supported his administration’s intensified immigration enforcement, affecting families of service members. An AP investigation found over 50 detentions of service members’ family members during Trump’s second term, sparking backlash due to military-family protection programs.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website notes discretionary options for immediate family protection, assessed case-by-case. It remains unclear if Luis Manuel Aviles was eligible for such a program.

The DHS spokesperson declared that military family connections do not grant protection against immigration enforcement. Delgado criticized the situation faced by Joshua Aviles, expressing concern over the handling of his father’s case.