The San Diego Padres' minor league catching coordinator has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Oswaldo Pirela, 34, who is from Venezuela, was taken into custody early Sunday at El Paso (Texas) International Airport, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday. He was not carrying his work permit card at the time, his brother, Jorge Pirela, told The Athletic.
According to a statement from DHS, Pirela entered the country legally in 2014, but that expired in 2018 and he "was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country." It said Pirela would remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
The Padres' Triple-A affiliate is the El Paso Chihuahuas. Pirela was traveling home to Arizona from a work trip, his family said.
"We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas," the Padres said in an earlier statement. "We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time."
Pirela's wife, Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic on Monday that the Padres are assisting the family, and that she has been in contact with Pirela. She said Pirela and their family have pending asylum applications and carry temporary ID cards.
"Since he arrived in this country, the only thing he's done is follow the rules of this country and do things properly," Oswaldo's sister, Daniela Pirela, told the The Associated Press.
