Padres minor-league catching coordinator detained by ICE in Texas
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Oswaldo Pirela, the San Diego Padres’ minor-league catching coordinator, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at El Paso International Airport on Sunday for lacking proper legal documentation.
- Pirela, originally from Venezuela, reportedly overstayed his authorized stay in the U.S., which expired in February 2018, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
- The Padres organization is assisting Pirela’s family, who have pending asylum applications and hold temporary ID cards, while MLB and the MLB Players Association emphasize support for non-U.S.-born players regarding immigration matters.
- Pirela has been with the Padres since January 2024 and had no prior encounters with immigration authorities; the MLB declined to comment on the situation.
- ICE confirmed Pirela will remain in custody pending removal proceedings and highlighted that work authorization or pending applications do not confer legal status in the U.S.
