Border Patrol detains father of sailor serving on record-long USS Abraham Lincoln deployment
U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested Luis Manuel Aviles in Key West, Florida, while his son was on a nine-month deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln; the agency said immigration violations will be pursued despite his family’s military service.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents arrested 48-year-old Luis Manuel Aviles in Key West, Florida, on Saturday, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. Aviles, a Nicaraguan-born handyman who has lived in the United States for 19 years, was taken into ICE custody while authorities consider deportation proceedings. > "Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws," the department said.
Aviles’ wife, Argelia Aviles, said he was stopped after leaving home to take his car to a mechanic. Their son, Joshua Aviles, is currently completing his ninth month aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which recently set a record for uninterrupted time at sea. The prolonged deployment has raised concerns about supply shortages and crew mental-health challenges.
The incident highlights ongoing immigration enforcement actions affecting military families, a topic that has drawn attention during the current administration’s immigration policies.