San Diego Padres Coach Taken Into ICE Custody While Traveling With Team, Faces Possible Deportation

A San Diego Padres minor league coach was detained by immigration officials while traveling for work, and he’s now facing possible deportation.

According to a report from CNN published on Tuesday, August 18, Oswaldo Pirela was taken into custody at an airport in El Paso, Texas, while on a work trip for the organization. Pirela, 34, works as a catching coach for the Padres.

The outlet reported that federal records show that Oswaldo is a native of Venezuela and is currently being held at a detention center in El Paso.

Oswaldo’s cousin, Jorge Pirela, spoke to CNN and said that he was taken into custody around 4 a.m. on Monday, August 11.

“He is truly an exemplary person. He lives for his family, is a hardworking man, a devoted father and husband, and a man of faith,” Jorge told the network.

The Padres confirmed they were aware of Oswaldo’s arrest and said the organization was working to gather more information.

Oswaldo’s family maintains that he has followed the proper immigration process since he arrived in the United States more than a decade ago.

According to CNN, Oswaldo legally entered the U.S. in 2014 and applied for asylum the following year. Jorge also said that Oswaldo is currently in the process of obtaining his EB-2 visa.

“Since the time he applied for asylum, he has continuously renewed his work authorization whenever it was approaching expiration. Everything has always been done through the proper legal process,” Jorge told the outlet.

However, the Department of Homeland Security offered a different account of Oswaldo’s immigration status. In a statement to CNN, DHS said Oswaldo was only granted permission to remain in the U.S. until 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,” the statement read. “He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process.”