[REVISION HISTORY]

ICE detention of San Diego Padres coach Oswaldo Pirela

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-26 12:45 UTC → 2026-08-26 23:46 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Oswaldo Pirela, a Venezuelan former professional baseball player and current minor league catching coordinator for the San Diego Padres, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at El Paso International Airport on August 16 while traveling for work involving the Padres’ affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges that although Pirela entered the U.S. legally in 2014, his authorized stay expired on February 10, 2018. DHS officials emphasized that a work permit or a pending application does not equate to legal immigration status, noting he lacked physical documentation of legal status at the time of his arrest. Pirela’s family has contested these claims, stating he has lived in the U.S. for 12 years, has a pending asylum case due to persecution in Venezuela, and was in the process of applying for an EB-2 visa. His sister, Daniela Pirela, asserted that he has followed all laws and possesses valid work permits. After being held in custody for more than a week, the 34-year-old has been released on bond. Following his release, Pirela returned to his home in Arizona to reunite with his wife and two children. The San Diego Padres confirmed his release ~~but~~ and expressed satisfaction that he has reunited with his family, though they declined to provide further comment due to the ongoing legal matter. Pirela remains involved in removal proceedings regarding his status.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.