Key west: The father of an American sailor serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was released from federal custody following his detention by immigration authorities during the weekend, according to his family on Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Aviles family announced through the sailor Joshua Aviles' social media account that "Luis has been released back to our family." The family expressed their gratitude for the public support received during the ordeal and requested privacy as they await the return of Joshua, who has been deployed for more than nine months.

Luis Manuel Aviles, originally from Nicaragua and who has lived in the US for two decades, was apprehended Saturday in Key West, Florida. Although his son confirmed that Aviles possesses a work permit and Social Security card, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintained that these documents do not confer official legal status. DHS stated that Border Patrol agents arrested Aviles because he had entered the country illegally.

The USS Abraham Lincoln is returning to the US following a prolonged deployment in the Middle East.