U.S. Border Patrol has detained Luis Manuel Aviles, a 48-year-old Nicaraguan national whose son is serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East.
Aviles’ family says he has lived in the United States for approximately 19 years, holds a work permit and has no criminal record. He was reportedly arrested in Key West, Florida, after leaving home to take his vehicle to a mechanic.
His son, Joshua Aviles, said he had been working long shifts during a deployment lasting more than 250 days when he learned about his father’s detention. The family had been expecting the two men to reunite after the sailor returned home.
The Department of Homeland Security said having a relative in the military does not automatically provide lawful immigration status. According to DHS, Aviles will remain in ICE custody while the government pursues his removal.
Why it matters: The case raises questions about immigration enforcement involving military families and access to discretionary programs such as military parole-in-place.
