Border Patrol arrested a sailor’s father in Key West, Florida, while his son was completing a prolonged deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The arrest has brought renewed attention to immigration enforcement involving military families.

Federal agents detained Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, on Saturday. His son, Joshua Aviles, was entering his ninth month aboard the Navy aircraft carrier.

Border Patrol Arrests Sailor’s Father in Key West

Argelia Aviles said her husband left their home to take his car to a mechanic. Border Patrol agents stopped and arrested him before he reached the shop.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest. The agency said Aviles entered the United States illegally and will remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody during deportation proceedings.

“Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws,” the department said in a statement.

Aviles is originally from Nicaragua and has lived in the United States for 19 years. His wife said he has authorization to work and was awaiting a decision on his immigration case.

The Key West resident works as a handyman and financially supports his family. His relatives described him as a hardworking father who remained focused on gaining permanent legal status.

Son Learns of Arrest While Serving at Sea

Joshua Aviles learned of the detention while still aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The sailor discussed the arrest in a social media post Saturday.

Joshua said he had worked shifts of 12 hours or longer for more than 250 days. He wrote that his father’s detention had placed additional emotional pressure on him during the deployment.

The sailor said he was serving a country that had given him significant opportunities. However, he questioned how he could remain focused without knowing how authorities were treating his father.

Katherine Delgado, Joshua’s sister, said he joined the military partly to help his father’s immigration case. The family believed his service could improve their father’s ability to secure legal status.

Luis Aviles had been waiting for his son to return. Family members said the father became increasingly worried when the original deployment timeline passed.

USS Lincoln Deployment Raised Family Concerns

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed in the Middle East for approximately nine months. The carrier set a U.S. military record for uninterrupted time at sea during the assignment.

Families of service members have reported concerns about food supplies, equipment strain and mental health aboard the ship. The Pentagon previously referred questions about conditions to the Navy.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said reports describing poor conditions aboard the carrier were inaccurate. The Navy did not immediately comment on the Aviles family’s situation.

The ship is expected to conclude its Middle East assignment after another carrier arrived in the region. Joshua’s family said he could now return home without his father there to greet him.

Arrest Reflects Changes for Military Families

The Trump administration has reduced some immigration protections previously available to relatives of military personnel. Immigration authorities have detained dozens of parents and spouses connected to active-duty service members.

One program, known as military parole-in-place, allows some parents, spouses and children to request legal status without leaving the United States. However, eligibility depends on each person’s immigration history and circumstances.

At least six military family members have been deported, and another left the country voluntarily.

Aviles’ relatives are seeking information about his detention and possible deportation. His case remains pending as his son approaches the end of one of the Navy’s longest deployments.