Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, a Nicaraguan national and father of USS Abraham Lincoln sailor Joshua Aviles, was taken into federal immigration custody by U.S. Border Patrol officers in Key West, Florida on Sunday. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Aviles Roa entered the US unlawfully and will remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending removal proceedings. The incident has caused anguish for his son, who is currently serving a 9-month deployment in the Middle East. The family had been waiting for approval of Aviles Roa's green card application through immigration channels.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Luis Manuel Aviles, the father of Joshua Aviles, a sailor on board the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, was detained by immigration authorities in Key West, Florida on Saturday. According to his son's Facebook post, Joshua had been deployed for over nine months and was fighting for a country that had given him everything. Luis Manuel Aviles, originally from Nicaragua, has lived in the US for roughly 20 years and has a driver's license, Social Security card, and work permit. His family says he has been doing "everything the right way" to obtain a green card, but was arrested by the Border Patrol during a traffic stop while on his way to a store. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Luis Manuel Aviles entered the US illegally at an unknown date and location and would remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Joshua's mother and other family members were unaware of any arrest history or criminal allegations against his father, who is currently being held by immigration officials.
Written for “Sailor's Family Detained” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 2046 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-27
The father of an American sailor serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has been taken into federal immigration custody while his son is deployed in the Middle East, according to a statement posted online by the service member.
uncertain
son → serve → member
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated on Sunday that U.S. Border Patrol officers apprehended Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, originally from Nicaragua, during a vehicle stop in Key West, Florida.
asserted
officers → state → West
Joshua Aviles, the detained man's son, reflected on his situation in a Facebook message: "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."
asserted
that → detain → everything
Relating how he received the news on Saturday, the sailor noted his father possessed a driver's license, Social Security card, and employment authorization.
asserted
father → relate → license
"I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE," he wrote.
asserted
he → get → ICE
Aviles detailed the family's ongoing effort to legalize his father's status, writing: "We have done everything through immigration to get his green card approved, and we are just waiting.
asserted
we → detail → immigration
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,"
uncertain
dad → know → criminal
According to the DHS, Aviles Roa entered the U.S. unlawfully and will remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending removal proceedings.
uncertain
Roa → accord → proceedings
"Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation's laws," the agency said.
asserted
agency → have → laws
President Donald Trump has defended the immigration measures as vital to domestic security.
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Trump → defend → security
However, civil rights advocates contend the policies infringe on free speech and due process rights, exacerbating racial profiling concerns among ethnic minorities.
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policies → contend → minorities
The aircraft carrier left the Middle East on Saturday after remaining at sea for more than 200 consecutive days without port access—a modern record that prompted inquiries from Democratic lawmakers after family complaints about shipboard conditions.
asserted
that → leave → conditions
