Father of Sailor Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Arrested by Border Patrol as Son Returns Home from Months-Long Deployment

Michael NiedMon, August 24, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC

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USS Abraham LincolnCredit: Getty -

Border Patrol arrested Luis Manuel Aviles Roa over the weekend as his son, Joshua Aviles, returns home from a lengthy Middle East deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln

Luis reportedly came to the United States from Nicaragua, and his family said that he had a permit to work and was attempting to secure permanent citizenship

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed the arrest to PEOPLE, saying that Luis remained in custody ahead of his deportation

The father of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was detained by Border Patrol as his son returned home from a months-long deployment overseas.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that Luis Manuel Aviles Roa was arrested during a traffic stop in Key West, Fla., on Saturday, Aug. 22. Luis immigrated to the United States from Nicaragua, and the spokesperson said he is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “pending removal proceedings.”

Luis’ son, Joshua Aviles, addressed his father’s arrest in a post on Facebook as the U.S. aircraft carrier returns home after spending nearly 275 days at sea. The lengthy deployment was brutal for many sailors, with reports of poor living conditions and mental health impacts that led some sailors to attempt jumping overboard while they were stationed near the Middle East.

“I’ve been deployed for over nine months, out at sea in the Middle East aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, fighting for a country that has given me everything,” Joshua wrote alongside photos of his family. “I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE. If you know my dad, you know he is a hardworking, humble man who is always willing to help anyone if he can. My dad has his driver’s license, Social Security card, and work permit. We have done everything through immigration to get his green card approved, and we are just waiting.”

Joshua continued, writing, “This is heartbreaking for me. 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. My dad’s only ‘crime’ was coming to this country to give my siblings and me a better life.”

“Dad, I don’t know where you are right now, but know that I am doing everything I can to bring you back home. I love you with all my heart. Please stay strong. I’m coming home, Dad,” he concluded.

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Stock image of an ICE agentCredit: Douglas Rissing/Getty

Luis’ wife, Argelia Aviles, described her husband to The as someone who “dedicates himself only to work so he can put food on the table at home.” She added, “He is a good father. He loves his children with all his soul.”

Argelia told the outlet that Luis had a permit to work and had been in the U.S. for 19 years.

She added that her husband “was excited” that Joshua was headed home after spending so long deployed. “He wanted to hug his son, as he hadn’t seen him for nine months.”

Joshua’s sister, Katherine Delgado, told AP that part of the reason her brother had joined the Navy was to help Luis, saying that he wanted his father to “no longer be living in fear of being arrested.”

In their statement to PEOPLE, DHS said, “Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws. Military service by an immediate relative does not automatically grant parole, lawful status, or immunity from immigration enforcement.”

“We are simply enforcing the laws passed by Congress. This Administration does not pick and choose which laws to enforce,” the spokesperson continued.

PEOPLE contacted the Navy for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publishing.

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Source: “AOL Breaking”