A Venezuelan who previously played professional baseball and now works with the San Diego Padres was detained by U.S. immigration officers upon his arrival in Texas for a work assignment with the team, his family reported on Tuesday.
Oswaldo Pirela, who serves as a catching coach in the minor league system of the Padres, is currently detained in a facility in El Paso, as shown by federal records.
The Padres announced in a statement that they are aware of Pirela’s detention and are seeking further information.
Pirela was traveling for work when he was detained on Sunday at approximately 5 a.m. at an airport in El Paso, according to his sister, Daniela Pirela. The Padres have an affiliate minor league team in El Paso, known as the El Paso Chihuahuas.
Daniela Pirela stated that her 34-year-old brother has resided in the U.S. for 12 years, adhering to the law.
She mentioned that he sought asylum in 2015 and currently resides in Peoria, Arizona, with his wife and two children, aged 9 and 4, who hold U.S. citizenship.
“Since arriving in this country, he has consistently followed the rules and done everything correctly,” Daniela told The Associated Press.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that Oswaldo Pirela entered the U.S. legally in 2014 with permission to remain until 2018, after which he overstayed. They emphasized that having work authorization or pending applications does not provide legal status in the U.S.
Pirela is being held by ICE pending removal, according to DHS.
Oswaldo Pirela had a brief career in minor league baseball as a catcher with the Texas Rangers organization.
Turbay is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
