The San Diego Padres’ minor league catching coordinator who was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents over the weekend will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, federal officials said.
Oswaldo Pirela was detained Sunday at El Paso International Airport while on a work-related trip, according to family members who say Pirela has a pending asylum case.
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement that Pirela entered the U.S. legally in 2014 and “was granted permission by the Obama administration to remain in the country until February 10, 2018.”
BREAKING: SD Padres Catching-Coordinator and Former Texas Rangers baseball player, Oswaldo Pirela, was detained by ICE at the airport in El
— Lidia Terrazas (@LidiaTerrazas) August 17, 2026
Paso, TX.
A resident of AZ, he has lived and worked in the United States since 2014 and is a father to two United States born daughters. pic.twitter.com/9aMDh1ZZa6
The spokesperson said Pirela then “overstayed his welcome” and was arrested last weekend after he was found without legal documentation.
The Padres said in a statement released Monday that the team was aware of Pirela’s detention.
“We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time,” the team’s statement read.
Pirela’s family told NBC News that he came to the U.S. from Venezuela and sought asylum, but was unaware why his case has taken so long to process.
Family members said the father of two was traveling home to Arizona when he was detained.
Pirela’s brother, Jorge Heli Pirela, wrote in an Instagram post, “My brother is not a criminal. He is a son, a brother, a coach, a worker, and a man who came to this country seeking protection after our family suffered persecution in Venezuela. He followed the asylum process, built a life here, worked hard, contributed to his community, and was traveling for work when ICE detained him.
“We are asking for one thing: due process and justice.”
