Oswaldo José Pirela, the San Diego Padres' minor-league catching coordinator, was detained by immigration authorities at El Paso International Airport on Sunday while traveling for work. Pirela, who is from Venezuela and has two U.S.-born daughters, has been in custody since his detention and was still held as of Monday night, according to ICE detainee records. He had sought asylum in 2014 and has been living and working in the US legally, but his sister believes he may have been targeted due to his active asylum case. The Padres stated that they are gathering more information on Pirela's situation but do not have any further comment at this time.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator Oswaldo José Pirela was detained by immigration authorities in El Paso, Texas, and remained in custody, according to family and ICE detainee records.
uncertain
Pirela → detain → records
His sister Daniela Pirela said in a phone interview that her brother, who was raised in Venezuela, was detained at El Paso International Airport at around 5 a.m. Sunday while traveling for work, which she said he does weekly for the Padres.
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he → say → Padres
Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainee records showed Pirela in custody late Monday.
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records → show → custody
In a statement early Tuesday, the Padres said that they’d recently learned of Pirelas’ detainment.
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they → say → detainment
“We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time,” the team said.
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team → work → time
ICE and Major League Baseball did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
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ICE → respond → News
Daniela Pirela said she spoke with her brother briefly but is not truly aware of the conditions he is living in while in detention.
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he → say → detention
“He’s a very strong person and he tries not to worry us,” she said.
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she → ’ → us
“He’s going to say he’s OK.
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he → go → ?
That’s what he said.”
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he → ’ → what
She said her brother is in the U.S. legally and sought asylum in 2014, when he first arrived in the country.
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he → say → country
Daniela Pirela said she doesn’t know why his asylum case has taken so long to process.
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case → say → ?
“He did everything lawfully as the U.S. asks,” she said.
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she → do → everything
“He loves this country.”
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He → love → country
Oswaldo Pirela has two U.S.-born daughters and lives outside Phoenix, Arizona, family members said on social media accounts verified by NBC News.
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members → have → News
“Oswaldo, like me and other members of our family, was directly affected by persecution from the Venezuelan regime,” brother Jorge Heli Pirela said on Instagram.
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Pirela → affect → Instagram
“We came to the United States seeking safety through the legal process, applied for asylum through the proper channels, and have worked hard to build our lives and become contributing members of American society.”
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We → come → society
Jorge Pirela did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Monday.
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Pirela → respond → comment
On Instagram, he called Oswaldo “a devoted father, a dedicated coach, an exceptional worker, and someone who has earned the respect of his coworkers, former managers, employers, players, and the communities he has been part of.”
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he → call → coworkers
Daniela Pirela said she believes her brother was targeted due to his active asylum case.
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brother → say → case
“There isn’t a reason why they detained him,” she said.
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she → be → him
“They still haven’t told us.”
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They → tell → us
They’ve publicly asked U.S. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, D-Arizona, who represents Pirela’s home district, to intervene.
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who → ask → district
A spokesperson for the congressman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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spokesperson → respond → comment
Relatives are hoping for his release and “due process,” his brother said.
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brother → hop → release
Daniela Pirela said the family is seeking a lawyer to help them free him.
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them → say → him
Also speaking on Instagram, Pirela’s mother, Naivy Dominguez, said, “He is being unjustly detained, even though his lawful history in this country can be documented.”
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history → speak → country
She asked supporters to “speak up” and “tell the world who he truly is.”
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he → ask → world
Dominguez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Dominguez → respond → comment
Pirela was signed by the Texas Rangers in 2009 and remained with the organization for three years, playing multiple positions for the Dominican Summer League Rangers in the minors, according to Major League Baseball records.
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Pirela → sign → records
His mother said family members are awaiting his return to Arizona.
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members → say → Arizona
“Today, his daughters are waiting for their father to come home,” she said.
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she → wait → ?
“His family is waiting for him.
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family → wait → him
His community is standing behind him.”
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community → stand → him
