Joshua Aviles, a US Navy sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that has faced reports of mental health challenges, wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday (local time) that he learned his father had been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his ninth month aboard the carrier.

Aviles wrote, "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 if he can. My dad has his driver’s license, Social Security card, and work permit. We have done everything through immigration to get his green card approved, and we are just waiting."

He further wrote, "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. My dad’s only “crime” was coming to this country to give my siblings and me a better life."

In a message to his father, the US Navy sailor wrote, "Dad, I don’t know where you are right now, but know that I am doing everything I can to bring you back home. I love you with all my heart. Please stay strong. I’m coming home, Dad."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Joshua's father, Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, a Nicaraguan native, was arrested by Border Patrol during a traffic stop in Key West, Florida, on 22 August. The DHS noted that he entered the country illegally and is currently in ICE custody, where he faces deportation proceedings, CBS News reported.

While the DHS did not dispute the family's claim that Aviles' father had no criminal record, it said, "(h)aving a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation's laws."

In a statement released Sunday, the department said, "We are simply enforcing the laws passed by Congress," and added, "This Administration does not pick and choose which laws to enforce."

Aviles’ arrest is the latest case in which US immigration enforcement has impacted a military family over the past 18 months.

Arrests of military spouses and parents by immigration officials, once considered rare, are now becoming increasingly common under President Donald Trump's administration in his second term, which has revoked previously imposed limits on arrests by the agency and Border Patrol as part of its mass deportation campaign.

DHS officials have consistently maintained that anyone living in the United States illegally is vulnerable to being arrested and processed for deportation, even in cases where family members are serving in the military.

In his post, Aviles also noted the USS Lincoln's extended deployment in the Middle East and wrote, "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."

The aircraft carrier, which has faced reports of mental health challenges and poor conditions among service members during its prolonged deployment in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Iran war, departed the region last week with around 5,000 crew members and is now returning to the US, a journey expected to take several weeks.

Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.

Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.

At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.

Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.

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