Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, a Nicaraguan immigrant and the father of an active-duty U.S. Navy sailor, was released from federal immigration custody on Tuesday. His release follows a Saturday arrest in Key West, Florida, by U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Aviles Roa has lived in the United States for nearly two decades and was awaiting approval of a green card at the time of his detainment. His son, Josh Aviles, is currently serving his ninth month of deployment in the Middle East aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The family announced the release and reunion via social media following the dismissal of the case by an immigration judge on Monday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest occurred after agents stopped Aviles Roa’s vehicle. In a statement to The Hill, a DHS spokesperson stated that military service by an immediate relative does not automatically grant parole, lawful status, or immunity from immigration enforcement. The spokesperson added that having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate national laws.
For an individual service member, such as the sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the concrete impact involves managing high-stress military duties—including 12-hour shifts during a deployment—while navigating the potential deportation of a parent. A service member in this position may notice changes in their mental well-being and focus, as Josh Aviles reported struggling to continue his work while his father was treated like a criminal. Families in this situation face legal costs and the potential for sudden loss of household stability if a primary provider or caregiver is detained.
The case sets a precedent for how the Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration balances enforcement priorities with the status of military families. While DHS maintains that military connection does not provide immunity, the dismissal of this specific case by an immigration judge suggests a case-by-case legal review process remains in effect. What happens next depends on the specific legal status of other detained relatives; however, no specific court dates or legislative deadlines for broader policy changes were reported. Aviles Roa's family is currently awaiting the return of Josh Aviles from his deployment.