Padres Coach Detained by ICE at Texas Airport

San Diego Padres minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at El Paso International Airport. The 34-year-old Venezuelan national was returning home from a work trip when authorities took him into custody.

Pirela had been in El Paso working with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate. He was attempting to fly back to Arizona, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the detention and said he remains in federal custody.

His family states he entered the United States in 2014, sought asylum, and has pending applications along with temporary identification. They say he was not carrying his physical work permit at the time of detention. DHS maintains his legal authorization expired in 2018 and that he lacked documentation granting current status.

The Padres issued a brief statement: “We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas. We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”

Pirela previously played in the Texas Rangers’ minor league system before joining the Padres organization in 2024. His family says the team has been assisting them and that he has been able to communicate with his wife since the detention.

The case unfolds against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement. Removal proceedings are moving forward while the family continues to pursue legal status options, including an employment-based visa. Neither the Padres nor Major League Baseball has indicated whether the situation will affect his role with the club.