US Border Patrol Detains Father of Deployed Navy Sailor in Florida

U.S. Border Patrol agents detained the father of an American sailor serving in the Middle East during a vehicle stop in Key West, Florida, federal officials confirmed on August 23, 2026. The detainee, Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, faces removal proceedings while his son remains deployed at sea.

Aviles Roa, originally from Nicaragua, was taken into custody by federal authorities while his family was actively pursuing a green card application on his behalf. Department of Homeland Security officials stated that he entered the country unlawfully and will remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending immigration court proceedings.

His son, Joshua Aviles, expressed profound distress over the arrest while deployed on a extended mission aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

"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," said Joshua Aviles, Navy sailor.

The service member noted that his father carried valid state identification, a Social Security card, and federal employment authorization at the time of the stop.

"I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE," said Joshua Aviles, Navy sailor.

The family had been navigating federal immigration channels to regularize the father's residency status prior to the enforcement action.

"We have done everything through immigration to get his green card approved, and we are just waiting. 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," said Joshua Aviles, Navy sailor.

Federal immigration authorities maintained a firm stance on the legal basis for the apprehension despite the family member's military service.

"Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation's laws," said Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.

President Donald Trump has maintained that strict enforcement measures remain essential for national security. Civil rights organizations argue the administration's immigration policies infringe on due process rights and increase incidents of racial profiling against minority communities.

The USS Abraham Lincoln recently departed the Middle East after remaining at sea for more than 200 consecutive days without a port visit. Democratic lawmakers previously demanded investigations into the extended deployment following complaints from families regarding shipboard living conditions and crew morale.