Padres Minor-League Coordinator Oswaldo Pirela Detained by ICE in Texas

San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela remained in federal immigration custody Tuesday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him at El Paso International Airport. The Guardian reported that the 34-year-old Venezuelan was stopped early Sunday while preparing to return home to Arizona after a work trip.

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Pirela had been working with the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, and regularly travels as part of his role, according to his family. His wife, Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic that he was preparing to fly home, while his sister, Daniela Pirela, told NBC News he was stopped at about 5 a.m.

The Padres said they had recently learned of Pirela’s detention and were gathering more information, but offered no further comment. Major League Baseball told CNN that the organization had contacted his family. Avila said the club was helping the family and that she had spoken with her husband since he was detained.

Accounts of Pirela’s immigration status differ. His relatives said he came to the United States from Venezuela in 2014, applied for asylum after fleeing political persecution and repeatedly renewed his work authorization. They also said the family has pending asylum applications and that Pirela is pursuing an EB-2 employment-based visa. ESPN reported that his brother said Pirela did not have his physical work-permit card when he was stopped.

The Department of Homeland Security disputed the family’s description. DHS told CNN that Pirela entered the country illegally in 2014, had permission to remain until February 2018 and stayed beyond that date. The department said he lacked documentation establishing legal status when approached and would remain in ICE custody while removal proceedings continued. A pending application or work authorization does not itself confer immigration status, DHS said.

Pirela lives outside Phoenix with Avila and their two U.S.-born daughters. His sister said she spoke with him briefly and that he told her he was all right. Pirela joined the Padres’ player-development staff in 2024 after previously spending three seasons as a catcher in the Texas Rangers’ minor-league system, playing in the Dominican Summer League from 2009 through 2011. The Guardian reported that it remained unclear Tuesday when he would next appear in immigration court.