Published Aug 24, 2026, 11:27 AM EDT
A sailor's father was detained by immigration authorities during a traffic stop in Florida while his son was nine months into deployment.
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Published Aug 24, 2026, 11:27 AM EDT
A sailor deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln said his father was detained by immigration authorities in Florida over the weekend, while the sailor was at sea in the Middle East nine months into his deployment. Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, 48, was detained Saturday shortly after 11 a.m. in Key West, Fla., where he lives. His wife, Argelia Aviles, told the Associated Press that he was arrested after leaving home to take his car to a mechanic. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest, telling Military.com on Monday that the suspect "entered the country illegally on an unknown date and location" and will remain in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement proceedings, or ICE, custody pending removal proceedings. The circumstances of Aviles' immigration status are disputed. His family said he is originally from Nicaragua and has lived in the United States for about 19 years. He works as a repair man and holds a work permit, a Social Security card, and a driver's license. He was reportedly waiting for a green card to be approved.
