Padres Minor League Coach Detained by ICE in El Paso
San Diego Padres minor league catching coach Oswaldo Pirela was detained by ICE in El Paso, his family says.
A minor league coach for the San Diego Padres has been taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities, according to his family and federal records.
Oswaldo Pirela, a 34-year-old Venezuelan national who serves as a catching coach in the Padres' farm system, was detained on Sunday around 5 a.m. at an airport in El Paso, Texas. He was in the city on a work trip for the club, which operates its Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, there.
Federal records show Pirela is currently being held at a detention facility in El Paso. The Padres acknowledged the arrest in a statement, saying they were aware of the situation and working to gather more information.
Pirela's sister, Daniela Pirela, said her brother has lived in the United States for 12 years and has abided by the law. She noted that he applied for asylum in 2015 and resides in Peoria, Arizona, with his wife and two young children, ages 9 and 4, both of whom are U.S. citizens.
"Since he arrived in this country, the only thing he's done is follow the rules of this country and do things properly," Daniela Pirela said.
Before joining the Padres organization, Pirela had a brief minor league playing career as a catcher in the Texas Rangers system.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for comment.