A San Diego Padres minor league coach got snatched up by federal agents at an El Paso airport on Sunday morning.
Oswaldo Pirela, the 34-year-old Venezuelan who serves as the Padres' minor league catching coordinator, was taken into custody at roughly 5 a.m. at El Paso International Airport, as reported over the weekend. The Department of Homeland Security says the man overstayed his authorized time in the country by more than EIGHT YEARS. That is not a typo.
Here is where things get really messy. Two very different stories are flying around about Pirela's situation, and both sides are talking loud.
DHS says Pirela came to America legally back in 2014 and got clearance to stay until February 10, 2018. After that date? He allegedly just kept living his life. The department publicly called him an "illegal alien" who "overstayed his welcome" and threw in the spicy all caps kicker, "NOBODY is above the law." They confirmed he is sitting in ICE custody while removal proceedings play out. No separate criminal charges were announced.
But Pirela's family is telling a completely different story. His relatives say he fled political persecution in Venezuela and filed for asylum through proper channels. They claim he regularly renewed his work authorization. His wife, Kemberly Avila, told reporters that family members carry temporary ID cards while their asylum cases are still pending. On top of that, the family says Pirela is also pursuing an EB-2 employment visa.
One awkward wrinkle? His brother reportedly told The Athletic that Pirela did not have his physical employment authorization card on him when authorities grabbed him at the airport.
DHS fired back hard on the family's claims, stating that neither a work permit nor a pending immigration application gives someone lawful status in America. Period.
Pirela had traveled to El Paso for work with the Padres' Triple-A team, the Chihuahuas. He lives in Peoria, Arizona, with his wife and two kids, both of whom are American citizens. His family says he has called the United States home for roughly 12 years.
The Padres finally broke their silence after the story went public. "We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas," the team said in a statement shared by ESPN. They added that they were still collecting information and had nothing else to share. Major League Baseball confirmed the Padres reached out to Pirela's family after the detention.
Before landing his coaching gig with San Diego's player development staff in 2024, Pirela spent three seasons catching in the Texas Rangers' farm system. He also played in the Dominican Summer League from 2009 to 2011 but never made it to the big leagues.
So now a man who coaches professional baseball players for a living is sitting in federal custody, his family is pleading his case publicly, and DHS is making an example out of him. This one is far from over.
Read more American news stories at: The American Tribune
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