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.