Oswaldo José Pirela was detained by immigration authorities in El Paso, Texas, while traveling for work. Oswaldo Pirela ice detention left the San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator in custody as his family pressed for answers.
Daniela Pirela said her brother was stopped at El Paso International Airport at around 5 a.m. Sunday and that he had been traveling weekly for the Padres. ICE detainee records showed Pirela in custody late Monday, and the Padres said early Tuesday that they had recently learned of his detainment.
The family said Pirela was raised in Venezuela and sought asylum in 2014. Daniela Pirela said he is in the United States legally, has two U.S.-born daughters, and lives outside Phoenix, Arizona.
Daniela Pirela on the detention
Daniela Pirela said the family has not been told why he was taken into custody. “He’s a very strong person and he tries not to worry us,” Daniela Pirela said in a phone interview. “He’s going to say he’s OK. That’s what he said.” She also said, “He did everything lawfully as the U.S. asks” and “He loves this country.”
Family appeal to Abraham Hamadeh
Jorge Heli Pirela said on Instagram that the family was directly affected by persecution from the Venezuelan regime. Jorge Heli Pirela said the family came to the United States seeking safety through the legal process and applied for asylum through the proper channels, and he described Oswaldo Pirela as “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.”
The family publicly asked U.S. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh to intervene as relatives said they are hoping for his release and due process. The Padres said, “We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time,” leaving the case centered on why immigration authorities detained Pirela and what happens next for a Padres staff member whose work travel had taken him through El Paso.
