Oswaldo Jose Pirela, a minor-league catching coordinator for the San Diego Padres, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso, Texas, leaving his family seeking answers about why he was taken into custody.
Family members and ICE detainee records indicated that Pirela remained detained as of late Monday.
His sister, Daniela Pirela, said he was taken into custody at approximately 5 a.m. Sunday at El Paso International Airport while traveling for work with the Padres organization.
Pirela was reportedly on his way back to his family in Arizona when he was detained.
Family Says He Entered the US Legally
Pirela’s wife, Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic that her husband was returning home to Arizona.
His brother said Pirela did not have his work permit card with him when immigration authorities detained him.
The Padres have acknowledged the detention and said they are working with Pirela’s family while attempting to establish more details.
“We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas,” the team said in a statement.
“We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”
Sister Questions Why He Was Detained
Daniela Pirela said her brother originally sought asylum in the United States after arriving in the country in 2014.
She maintains that he has remained in the country through the legal immigration process and cannot understand why he was detained.
“He did everything lawfully as the U.S. asks,” she said in an emotional interview with NBC.
“He loves this country.”
Daniela also described her brother as someone who tries to reassure his relatives despite the circumstances.
“He’s a very strong person and he tries not to worry us. He’s going to say he’s OK. That’s what he said,” she added.
Family Describes His Life in America
Pirela has been part of the Padres organization since January 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He and his wife have two daughters who were born in the United States.
His brother, Jorge Heli Pirela, said the family had been forced to leave Venezuela after experiencing persecution under the country’s regime.
“Oswaldo, like me and other members of our family, was directly affected by persecution from the Venezuelan regime,” Jorge wrote on Instagram.
He said the family came to America seeking safety, applied for asylum through the appropriate legal channels and worked to establish new lives in the country.
Jorge described his brother as a committed father and coach who had earned the respect of colleagues, former managers, employers, players and members of the communities where he had worked.
Relatives Seek Political Intervention
The family has appealed for assistance from U.S. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, a Republican representing Arizona, where Pirela and his family live.
Relatives are asking for intervention as they search for legal representation and seek Pirela’s release while his immigration case is addressed through due process.
Daniela said the family had not been given a clear explanation for the detention and believes his ongoing asylum case may have played a role.
“There isn’t a reason why they detained him. They still haven’t told us,” she said.
His Mother Makes Emotional Appeal
Pirela’s mother, Naivy Dominguez, has also spoken publicly about her son’s detention, urging supporters to raise awareness about his situation.
She said his legal history in the United States could be documented and stressed the impact his absence was having on his young daughters and wider family.
“Today, his daughters are waiting for their father to come home,” Dominguez wrote on Instagram.
“His family is waiting for him. His community is standing behind him.”
Pirela’s Baseball Career
Pirela’s connection to professional baseball stretches back more than a decade.
Major League Baseball records show that he was signed by the Texas Rangers in 2009 and spent three years within the organization.
During his time in the minor leagues, he played multiple positions for the Dominican Summer League Rangers before eventually moving into coaching and player development.
His current role with the Padres has focused on catching development within the organization’s minor-league system.
Padres Await More Information
The Padres have so far declined to provide additional details beyond confirming that the organization is aware of Pirela’s detention and is working with his family.
Meanwhile, his relatives in Arizona continue to call for his release and for his immigration case to receive proper legal consideration.
For Pirela’s family, the immediate concern remains getting the coach and father back home to his wife and two daughters while they work to understand what led to his detention.
