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, his wife, Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic on Monday. He was not carrying his work permit card at the time, according to his brother, Jorge Pirela.
The Padres’ Triple-A affiliate is the El Paso Chihuahuas. Pirela was traveling home to Arizona, 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 a statement Monday. “We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”
Avila told The Athletic 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.
ICE has not yet responded to media requests for comment.
