The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) affirmed that the father of a Key West sailor aboard the recent USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier deployment in the Middle East will remain in federal immigration detention following his recent arrest.
“Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws,” a DHS spokesperson said. “Military service by an immediate relative does not automatically grant parole, lawful status, or immunity from immigration enforcement.”
Manuel Aviles' Arrest
The agency’s assertion comes two days after Nicaraguan national Luis Manuel Aviles Roa was detained during a vehicle stop on Aug. 22nd after 11 a.m. ET in Key West, Florida.
Katty Delgago, Manuel Aviles’ stepdaughter, said that Manuel Aviles was detained near a Publix supermarket while on his way to the mechanic.
According to Delgado, Manuel Aviles has been in the U.S. for roughly 20 years.
Sailor Finds Out Father's Arrest While Overseas
In a statement following his father’s arrest, Joshua Aviles, the active sailor aboard the beleaguered USS Lincoln, assured that his father “has his driver’s license, Social Security card, and work permit.” Aviles also confirmed that his family has “done everything through immigration to get his green card,” which is currently pending approval.
“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,” Aviles wrote. “My dad’s only “crime” was coming to this country to give my siblings and me a better life.”
DHS Says Work Permit Or Pending Approval Does Not Protect Anyone
When asked by outlets whether Manuel Aviles had a Social Security number, work authorization, or pending immigration cases, DHS stated that “work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”
Since President Donald Trump’s second term, Immigration enforcement has detained more than 50 parents and spouses of service members after President Trump rolled back immigration protections for military families.
