Archive · 19 Aug 2026
ICE Detains Padres Minor-League Coach Despite Work Authorization
Oswaldo Pirela works as a baseball coach for the San Diego Padres’ minor-league organization.
ICE detained him at an airport in El Paso, Texas.
He was coming home from a work trip.
Pirela came to the United States from Venezuela and applied for asylum.
His family said he had temporary identification cards and had applied for a work permit.
However, his brother said Pirela did not have the work-permit card with him when he was detained.
DHS said that having work authorization or a pending application does not automatically give someone legal immigration status.
DHS also said Pirela’s permission to stay had expired in February 2018.
The Padres said they were trying to learn more about the situation.
Oswaldo Pirela, a San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator, was detained by ICE at El Paso Airport on Sunday, August 17.
Pirela was returning from a work trip and remained in detention as of Tuesday, August 18.
His family said he had applied for asylum and held temporary identification cards, but he did not have his temporary work-permit card with him.
DHS said Pirela lacks legal status, entered the United States in 2014, and exceeded permission to stay that ended in February 2018.
The Padres said they were gathering information and would not comment further.
- Who
- Oswaldo Pirela, a San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator, was detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- What
- ICE detained Pirela while DHS said he lacked current legal status and could face removal proceedings.
- When
- He was detained early Sunday, August 17, and remained detained as of Tuesday, August 18.
- Where
- Pirela was detained at El Paso Airport in El Paso, Texas, while returning to his home outside Phoenix, Arizona.
- Why
- DHS said Pirela’s permission to stay expired in February 2018 and that a pending application or work authorization does not itself confer legal status.
Family and Team Account
DHS and ICE Position
Work authorization and immigration application
Family and Team Account
Pirela’s family said he had applied for asylum and carried temporary identification cards; his brother said he had a temporary work permit but was not carrying the card during the detention.
DHS and ICE Position
A DHS spokesperson said work authorization or a pending application does not confer legal status in the United States.
Reason for detention
Family and Team Account
The family and the Padres’ statement focused on gathering information about why Pirela was detained while returning from a work trip.
DHS and ICE Position
DHS said Pirela did not have legal status, had entered the United States in 2014, and exceeded permission to stay that ended in February 2018.
Next steps
Family and Team Account
The Padres said they were working to gather additional information and declined further comment at that time.
DHS and ICE Position
DHS said Pirela would face removal proceedings.
- Detainee
- Oswaldo Pirela
- Role
- Catching coordinator for the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate
- Detaining agency
- United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Detention location
- El Paso Airport, Texas
- Immigration application
- Pirela’s family said he had applied for asylum
- Entry to United States
- DHS said Pirela entered the country in 2014
- Previous permission to stay
- DHS said it lasted until February 2018
- Family
- Pirela lives outside Phoenix with his wife and two US-born daughters