USS Lincoln sailor’s father detained by ICE as son deploys to Middle East
After spending more than 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, the USS Abraham Lincoln left the Middle East on Saturday
The father of a US sailor on board the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has been taken into the federal immigration detention in the midst of the son’s deployment in the Middle East during the Iran war.
The detention comes when the border patrol stopped Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, originally from Nicaragua for conducting some check ups in Key West, Florida, as reported by a spokesperson for the US homeland security department on Sunday.
Taking to Facebook, the sailor and son, Joshua Aviles, who serves in the Middle East posted, “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.”
“I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE.”
According to Alvis, when the border petrol stopped his father, he had his driver’s licence, social security card and work permit.
“We have done everything through immigration to get his green card approved, and we are just waiting. This is heart-breaking 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,” Alvis added.
However, the DHS claimed that Luis Manuel Aviles entered the US illegally. Therefore, he would remain in immigration and customs enforcement detention pending removal proceedings.
“Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws,” the DHS issued a statement.
This arrest can be seen as the immigration crackdown happening during the Trump administration which is aimed at enhancing domestic security. However, the rights groups slammed such crackdown as a way to curtail free speech and foster an unsafe environment.
After spending more than 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, the USS Lincoln left the Middle East on Saturday. The departure comes after the Democratic lawmakers slammed the administration for ignoring calls from sailors' families regarding worsening conditions aboard the ship.
