A U.S. Navy sailor serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln learned over the weekend that his father had been arrested by Border Patrol agents in Florida, just as the sailor marked his ninth month at sea. The carrier, which supported operations in the Middle East during the conflict with Iran, has drawn attention for its record-setting stretch of uninterrupted time away from port and the resulting strain on crew members.
Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, a Nicaraguan national who has lived in the United States for 19 years, was taken into custody Saturday in Key West during a vehicle stop while heading to a mechanic. His family described him as a hardworking handyman with a valid work permit, driver’s license, and Social Security card. They said he had no criminal record and that the family was actively pursuing a green card for him. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, stating that Aviles entered the country illegally and will remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending removal proceedings.
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Family’s Struggle and the Sailor’s Response
Joshua Aviles, the sailor’s son, shared his distress in a Facebook post while still deployed. He wrote that he had been working long shifts for more than 250 days without a break and called the news heartbreaking. “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,” he said. “I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE.” He emphasized that his father is a humble man who helps others and that the family had followed immigration processes while waiting for permanent status.
“This is heartbreaking for me.”
U.S. Navy sailor Joshua Aviles said he learned his father was arrested by federal immigration officials while on his ninth month aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that has been at the center of reports of mental health challenges… pic.twitter.com/23fVqoEubt
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 24, 2026
Joshua’s mother, Argelia Aviles, and his stepsister, Katherine Delgado, echoed those concerns. They portrayed Luis as a devoted parent focused solely on providing for his family. Delgado noted the timing was especially difficult because Joshua is expected to return home soon after the carrier’s extended deployment. The family maintains that Luis has lived and worked in the United States for nearly two decades without incident.
Official Position and Broader Context
Homeland Security officials defended the action firmly. In a statement, the department said, “Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws.” Officials added that the administration does not selectively enforce immigration rules. Aviles remains in ICE custody as deportation proceedings move forward.
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The arrest occurs against the backdrop of the USS Abraham Lincoln’s unusually long deployment. The carrier spent more than 200 consecutive days at sea, raising questions among some lawmakers and families about supply shortages and the mental health of sailors. Joshua Aviles has described the demanding 12-hour workdays that continue even as the ship begins its return. For the Aviles family, the personal impact of the detention has compounded the challenges already faced by a service member far from home.
As the case proceeds through immigration channels, the sailor continues his duties aboard the carrier while his relatives seek clarity on Luis Aviles’s status. The episode has highlighted tensions between strict enforcement of immigration laws and the situations of military families navigating long-term legal processes.
