Padres' Minor-League Catching Coordinator Snared By ICE

Oswaldo Pirela, the San Diego Padres' minor-league catching coordinator, was taken into custody Sunday in El Paso, Texas, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The San Diego Union-Tribune and The Athletic each confirmed Piera's plight with members of his family. Pirela has a hearing scheduled for next week, the Union-Tribune said.

Pirela is Venezuelan with an ongoing asylum case. He has been in the U.S. since 2014 and family members said he has an active work permit. Pirela's brother told The Athletic that Pirela was not carrying his work permit card at the time.

The Padres issued a statement Monday: “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.”

The Athletic received a statement from Homeland Security on Tuesday: “On August 16, 2026, Border Patrol arrested Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, an illegal alien from Venezuela, at the El Paso International Airport. He entered the country legally on September 10, 2014, and was granted permission by the Obama administration to remain in the country until February 10, 2018. In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome. When approached by law enforcement officers, he was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process. To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”

Pirela was visiting the Padres' Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas affiliate during their home series against the Salt Lake Bees. He was detained at the El Paso airport around 4 a.m. as he was traveling back to the Phoenix area, where he family lives and the Padres have their minor-league headquarters and spring training site in Peoria, Ariz.

With ICE ramping up immigration checks at airports, Pirela and his family came up with a system of checking in during his travel. The family did not hear from him Sunday morning, raising concern.

Pirela was the bench coach with the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm in 2024. He was a minor-league catcher for the Texas Rangers from 2009-11.