USS Lincoln heads home after extended Middle East deployment

Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, a Nicaraguan national detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement while his son serves aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, has been released from custody after an immigration judge dismissed the deportation case against him on Monday, his family announced Tuesday. Aviles returned home to Key West, Florida, three days after his arrest during a traffic stop.

The dismissal brings procedural resolution to the deportation case against Aviles. The arrest drew public attention after Joshua Aviles, the Navy sailor and Luis’s son, posted about it on social media on Sunday.

The Aviles family announced the release in a Facebook post signed by family members and posted to the account of Joshua Aviles, the Navy sailor and Luis’s son. “Luis has been released back to our family,” the post read. “We are grateful for all of the support for both Luis and Josh throughout this situation. At this moment, our family is taking time to be together. While we await the return of our proud Navy sailor, we kindly ask for your understanding and respect.”

Aviles had been in ICE custody following his Saturday arrest and faced deportation proceedings, according to the family. He has lived in the United States for nearly two decades and was awaiting approval for a green card, The Hill reported.

Joshua Aviles posted about the arrest on Sunday, writing: “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.” He added: “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.”

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been under an extended deployment to the Middle East and was en route back to the United States. The journey could take several weeks.

The dismissal extends the trajectory that began when Aviles was detained in Key West, as previously reported, and traces back to his original arrest.