Father of USS Lincoln sailor detained by ICE agents

(NBC, KYMA) - A sailor who has been deployed for over nine months on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is now fighting a different battle after his father was arrested and detained by ICE agents recently in Florida.

Luis Manuel Aviles, originally from Nicaragua, was taken into custody Saturday in Key West, Florida where he lives.

Aviles' family says he has been in the U.S. for 20 years and has a social security number and a work permit, and has no criminal history.

His son Joshua Aviles posted a message on social media writing in part, "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."

He told NBC news that despite limited internet access he is doing everything he can to get his father released.

The Department of Homeland Security did confirm he was taken into custody.

A DHS spokesperson added that, "having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation's laws."

DHS says Aviles entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location and would remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Joshua Aviles won't be home for about a month as the USS Abraham Lincoln heads home from the Middle East to its home port of San Diego.