In a case drawing national attention, Luis Manuel Áviles Roa—a Nicaraguan national residing in the United States—was detained by U.S. Border Patrol after a routine traffic stop in Key West, Florida. He now faces deportation and is being held at a federal immigration detention center operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A Sailor’s Plea from Abroad
José Aviles, his son and an active-duty U.S. Navy sailor serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, shared the news on Facebook. At the time of the arrest, he had been deployed for over nine months in the Middle East. ‘I’ve been at sea for more than nine months on the USS Abraham Lincoln, fighting for a country that has given me everything,’ he wrote.
He described learning about his father’s detention during deployment: ‘I got a call saying my father had been arrested by ICE.’ He emphasized that his father holds a valid driver’s license, a Social Security number, and a work permit—and that the family had pursued lawful permanent residency through official immigration channels. ‘We did everything through immigration services to get his green card approved, and we were simply waiting,’ Aviles wrote. ‘It breaks my heart. I don’t know how I’ll keep working 12-plus hours a day knowing my father is somewhere, possibly treated like a criminal.’
Government Stance and Broader Implications
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Áviles Roa entered the country unlawfully and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. In a statement, DHS underscored that ‘having a family member serve in the military does not grant immunity from violating our nation’s immigration laws.’
The case arrives amid heightened enforcement under former President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which prioritize border security and interior enforcement. While the administration maintains these measures enhance national safety, civil rights groups warn they disproportionately impact immigrant communities—particularly Latino and other minority populations—who report increased fear, racial profiling, and erosion of trust in law enforcement.
Aviles’ story has resonated widely, highlighting tensions between military service, family unity, and immigration enforcement in contemporary America.