Oswaldo Pirela, a minor league catching coordinator for the San Diego Padres, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at El Paso International Airport in Texas on Sunday, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Pirela, 34, originally from Venezuela, entered the United States legally on September 10, 2014, and was granted permission to remain until February 10, 2018, ICE stated. The agency reported that Pirela overstayed his visa and was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country when encountered by law enforcement. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Pirela was reportedly flying home to his family in Arizona. The Padres' Triple-A affiliate is located in El Paso. His wife, Kimberly Avila, has stated that Pirela and the family have pending asylum applications and temporary ID cards, and that the Padres are assisting with the situation. However, ICE clarified that a work authorization or a pending application does not confer legal status in the United States.
The San Diego Padres organization acknowledged the incident, stating, "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."