U.S. Navy sailor Joshua Aviles shared that his father was recently detained by federal immigration officials while serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. This aircraft carrier has been the focus of reports on challenging conditions and mental health issues faced by service members.

“I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE. If you know my dad, you know he is a hardworking, humble man who is always willing to help anyone,” Aviles expressed in a Facebook post.

Aviles showed deep concern over how his father’s arrest might affect his ability to continue working long shifts under stressful conditions.

“This is heartbreaking for me. 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,” he added.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, Aviles’ father, was arrested during a traffic stop in Key West, Florida. DHS stated Aviles Roa entered the U.S. illegally and remains in custody, facing deportation. Though Aviles Roa reportedly lacks a criminal record, DHS emphasized its role in enforcing immigration laws, stating, “Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws.”

This arrest is part of a broader trend of immigration enforcement operations affecting military families, noted since the second Trump administration. Prior limits on arrests by ICE and Border Patrol were rescinded as part of its increased deportation efforts.

DHS underscores that individuals in the U.S. illegally, including those related to military members, are subject to arrest and deportation.

Sailor Aviles acknowledged the challenges faced during the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East.”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,” he wrote. The aircraft carrier is on its way back to the U.S., a journey taking several weeks.