Key West, Fla. – On Saturday morning, Border Patrol agents detained Luis Manuel Aviles, the father of Sailor Joshua Aviles, who is currently serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The arrest took place near a Publix supermarket as Aviles was on his way to a mechanic, according to his stepdaughter Katty Delgado.
Delgado, who spoke with NBC News, said her stepfather has lived in the United States for roughly 20 years. She added that she is unaware of any criminal history or pending charges against him. “He’s doing everything the right way,” she said.
Federal officials confirm detention
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the Border Patrol stopped Aviles during a traffic stop and placed him in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. DHS stated that Aviles entered the United States illegally at an unknown date and location. A DHS spokesperson emphasized that the agency is “simply enforcing the laws passed by Congress” and that the current administration does not “pick and choose which laws to enforce.”
When asked whether Aviles possessed a Social Security number, a work permit, or any pending immigration applications, DHS told Telemundo that “work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”
Impact on a deployed sailor
Joshua Aviles, who has been deployed for more than nine months in the Middle East, posted on Facebook that his father is “hard‑working, giving and humble” and that the detention is “heartbreaking” for him. He wrote, “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 sailor also expressed his love for his father and promised to return home.
The USS Abraham Lincoln left its home port of San Diego on Nov. 25 and has been at sea for an extended period, breaking the Navy’s record for time without a port call. Relatives of crew members have voiced concerns about deteriorating conditions and morale aboard the carrier. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed those concerns as “completely misrepresented,” while the Navy confirmed the ship is en route to the West Coast after completing its Middle East deployment.
Broader immigration context
President Donald Trump has repeatedly defended his administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, which includes ICE arrests of family members of service members. An Associated Press investigation found that more than 50 parents and spouses of military personnel have been detained during Trump’s second term. Programs that sometimes protect immediate family members of service members exist, but they are applied on a case‑by‑case basis, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
In this case, it remains unclear whether Aviles qualified for any of those discretionary protections. The DHS spokesperson reiterated that having a family member in the military does not grant automatic parole, lawful status, or immunity from immigration enforcement.
Family members continue to advocate for Aviles’ release, with Joshua Aviles posting, “I love you with all my heart. Please stay strong. I’m coming home, Dad.” The situation highlights the tension between immigration law enforcement and the sacrifices made by military families.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
