Oswaldo Pirela, a Venezuelan and minor league catching coordinator for the San Diego Padres, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, at El Paso International Airport in Texas while returning to Arizona from a work trip.
Pirela, 34, remains in federal immigration custody as he faces removal proceedings, according to the Department of Homeland Security. His family says he has a pending asylum case and has consistently renewed his U.S. work authorization.
The detention took place early Sunday, at about 5 a.m., according to Pirela's sister, Daniela, who spoke to NBC News. His wife, Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic that he was preparing to fly home to Arizona after work connected to the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres' Triple-A affiliate.
The Padres confirmed they were aware of the case but said they were still gathering information.
"We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas," the club said in a statement. "We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time."
Pirela is listed in the Padres' official staff directory as the organization's catching coordinator within player development. He joined the club in 2024, first working as bench coach for the Lake Elsinore Storm, and previously spent three seasons as a catcher in the Texas Rangers' minor league system.
According to his family, Pirela came to the United States from Venezuela in 2014 after fleeing political persecution. They say he applied for asylum and maintained valid work authorization, while also pursuing an EB-2 visa, an employment-based route to permanent residency.
DHS disputes that account. A department spokesperson told CNN that Pirela entered the country illegally in 2014, was granted permission to remain until February 2018, and stayed after that date. The agency also said he was not carrying documentation establishing legal immigration status when he was stopped at the airport.
"Work authorization or a pending application do not confer legal status in the United States," a DHS spokesperson said.
Pirela's family has said he was not carrying his physical work permit card when ICE agents approached him. Avila said the family has pending asylum applications and temporary identification cards. Pirela lives near Phoenix with his wife and their two U.S.-born daughters.
Major League Baseball is also aware of the detention. CNN reported that the Padres contacted Pirela's relatives, while Avila said the team had offered support as the family seeks more information.
The case highlights the precarious position of immigrants with pending asylum claims and work permits amid President Donald Trump's expanded immigration enforcement campaign. It remains unclear when Pirela will appear before an immigration judge or whether he will be eligible for release on bond.
