Father of Navy sailor aboard USS Lincoln released from immigration custody

The father of a U.S. Navy sailor deployed in the Middle East for nine months was released from immigration detention on Monday, according to his family. The arrest of Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, sparked concerns after it was reported he was entering his ninth month on the USS Abraham Lincoln when his father was detained. The USS Lincoln holds the U.S. military record for uninterrupted time at sea.

Luis Manuel Aviles was arrested on Saturday after leaving his house to take his car to the mechanic. His wife, Argelia Aviles, stated that he holds a permit to work in the United States and has lived in the U.S. for 19 years. The arrest was part of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, leading to a congressional investigation by elected officials.

Aviles' son, Joshua Aviles, confirmed his father's release from federal immigration custody on Facebook. An immigration judge dismissed the case on Monday, just hours after Aviles was booked into an immigration detention center in Miami. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not provide immediate comment on the arrest and subsequent release.

An immigration attorney for military families, Margaret Stock, found the rapid filing and dismissal of charges "super unusual." Joshua Aviles described working 12-hour days without breaks since the USS Lincoln departed U.S. soil in November. The Navy confirmed Aviles serves aboard the USS Lincoln, performing physically demanding duties such as moving aircraft on the ship. The vessel is being replaced to return to the U.S.