Padres coordinator detained by ICE amid immigration status dispute

The San Diego Padres have confirmed the detainment of Oswaldo Pirela, their minor league catching coordinator, following an intervention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at El Paso International Airport. The incident occurred early Sunday, with Pirela, a 34-year-old national of Venezuela, taken into custody while travelling to Arizona.

Pirela’s wife, Kemberly Avila, confirmed to The Athletic that the coordinator was not carrying his work permit card at the time of the detention. His brother, Jorge Pirela, corroborated the absence of the document. The Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, is based in the city where the detention took place, though the specific operational reason for Pirela’s presence in El Paso at that moment was not detailed in official statements.

In a statement released on Monday, the Padres organisation acknowledged the situation and outlined their immediate response. "We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas," the club said. "We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time." Avila noted that the club is actively assisting the family and that she has been in contact with Pirela.

The family has disputed the implications of the detention regarding Pirela’s legal status. Avila stated that she and Pirela have pending asylum applications and that he carries temporary identification cards. However, the lack of a physical work permit card has complicated the immediate legal standing of the detainment, as ICE has not yet provided a public explanation or responded to media requests for comment regarding the specific basis for the action.

This administrative disruption occurs against a backdrop of significant structural change within the franchise. Major League Baseball recently approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to a new ownership group led by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones for $3.9 billion. The transaction, which follows the death of former owner Peter Seidler in 2023, is contingent on closing within the coming weeks, with the new owners pledging substantial investment in the franchise.