ICE detains sailor's father
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Border Patrol arrested Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, in Key West on Saturday. His son serves on the USS Abraham Lincoln, highlighting immigration enforcement's reach into military families.
Background
The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement, rescinding limits on arrests by ICE and Border Patrol as part of its mass deportation campaign. This has led to detentions of at least dozens of parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. troops, despite programs that can offer protection for military families on a case-by-case basis.
How it unfolded
- Sat, Aug 22, 2026Luis Manuel Aviles was arrested by Border Patrol during a traffic stop in Key West, Florida, shortly after 11 a.m. ET.
- Sun, Aug 23, 2026His son Joshua Aviles posted on Facebook about the detention, saying he was on the USS Abraham Lincoln 'fighting for a country that has given me everything.'
- Sun, Aug 23, 2026DHS confirmed the arrest, stating Aviles entered the U.S. illegally and would remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- DHS stated that having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate the nation's laws, and the administration does not pick and choose which laws to enforce.
- Family
- Stepdaughter Katty Delgado said Aviles has been in the U.S. for roughly 20 years, has no arrest history, and is 'doing everything the right way.'
Still unverified
The exact date and location of Aviles's entry into the U.S. are unknown, as stated by DHS. His family says he has lived in the U.S. for 19-20 years and has a work permit, but DHS says he entered illegally.