Sailor's Father Freed From Immigration Detention After Public Plea

Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, the father of a U.S. Navy sailor, has been released from immigration detention, his family confirmed Tuesday. Aviles Roa was taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents after his son, Joshua Aviles, publicly detailed the heartbreak of serving his country overseas while his father was detained.

Joshua Aviles, who has been deployed for over nine months aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, shared on Facebook that his father was arrested by immigration authorities despite possessing a driver's license, Social Security card, and work permit. His father was awaiting a "green card" for permanent legal U.S. residency. "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," the sailor wrote in his post.

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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

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the parent agency of Border Patrol, stated that Luis Manuel Aviles Roa had entered the U.S. illegally and would remain in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention pending removal proceedings. The DHS asserted, "Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation's laws."

However, an update posted Tuesday to Joshua Aviles's Facebook account announced, "Luis has been released back to his family." The family expressed gratitude for the support received but offered no explanation for the change in Aviles Roa's status. Neither DHS nor ICE immediately responded to requests for comment.

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Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation's laws