Key facts
- Luis Manuel Aviles was arrested by Border Patrol in Key West, Florida.
- Aviles has a permit to work in the U.S. and has resided there for 19 years.
- His son is currently serving a nine-month deployment on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- The arrest is framed by the family as part of the Trump administration's deportation agenda affecting military families.
- The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest and stated Aviles will remain in ICE custody.
Luis Manuel Aviles, a 48-year-old handyman from Nicaragua who has lived in the U.S. for 19 years and holds a work permit, was arrested by Border Patrol agents on Saturday in Key West, Florida. His arrest occurred as his son, Joshua Aviles, is nearing the end of a nine-month deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy vessel that has set a record for uninterrupted time at sea.
According to his wife, Argelia Aviles, Luis Manuel Aviles was leaving his house to take his car to the mechanic when he was apprehended. She described him as a dedicated father who works solely to provide for his family. The arrest comes amid reports that the Trump administration is intensifying its deportation efforts, detaining numerous parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. troops, with at least six family members deported and one self-deported, according to AP findings.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Aviles' arrest, stating he would remain in ICE custody while the government pursues his deportation. A department spokesperson asserted that having a family member in the military does not exempt individuals from U.S. laws. Joshua Aviles, currently serving 12-hour shifts on the USS Lincoln, expressed his distress over his father's detention, stating it makes it difficult to continue his duties. He joined the military, in part, believing it would help his father's immigration status.
Joshua's sister, Katherine Delgado, also shared her concerns, noting the challenges of being separated from her brother and the difficulties she faced in sending him care packages during his deployment. She mentioned that Joshua is expected to return home soon, but fears he will come back without his father. The lengthy deployment of the USS Lincoln has reportedly raised concerns about service members' well-being, including food shortages and mental health, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth having previously characterized conditions aboard the ship as "completely misrepresented."