A father whose son is serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has been arrested by U.S. immigration authorities, his wife stated. Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents on Saturday in Key West, Florida, shortly after he left his house to take his car for repairs.

Argelia Aviles, his wife, said her husband, a handyman, has possessed a permit to work in the United States for the 19 years he has lived there after immigrating from Nicaragua. She described him as a dedicated father who works to support his family.

The arrest occurred as the Trump administration has been tightening immigration enforcement and rolling back protections for families of active-duty U.S. service members. According to an Associated Press investigation, at least dozens of parents and spouses of U.S. troops have been detained as part of a broader deportation effort.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, stating that Aviles will remain in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings. A department spokesperson said that having a family member in the military does not exempt individuals from complying with U.S. laws.

Aviles’ son, Joshua Aviles, is currently deployed in the Middle East aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for an extended period, setting a U.S. military record. The prolonged deployment has raised concerns about the well-being of service members, including potential food shortages and the mental health impact of being away from land for more than nine months. Joshua Aviles himself has reportedly been working 12-hour shifts without a break.

Joshua Aviles wrote on Facebook that he was still deployed when he learned of his father's detention. He expressed heartbreak and concern about his father's treatment, especially given his own service to the country. His sister, Katherine Delgado, noted that Joshua joined the military partly with the hope of improving his father's immigration status and alleviating his fear of deportation.

Delgado also shared concerns about her brother's difficult deployment, including reports of insufficient food and her efforts to send him care packages. She stated that her brother is expected to return home soon but will do so without his father.

Luis Aviles had been anticipating his son's return from the lengthy deployment, according to his wife, and was eager for the tour of duty to conclude.