A San Diego Padres player development instructor has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, his wife and brother told The Athletic on Monday.Oswaldo Pirela, the Padres’ minor-league catching coordinator, was detained at El Paso International Airport in Texas at around 4 a.m. Sunday, said his wife, Kemberly Avila. The Padres’ Triple-A affiliate is in El Paso. Pirela was flying home to his family in Arizona.Avila said she has been in contact with her husband, and that the Padres are assisting their family in the situation. Pirela, a 34-year-old father of two, was not carrying his work permit card at the time he was detained, said Oswaldo’s brother, Jorge Pirela. Oswaldo Pirela and his family are from Venezuela.“We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas,” the Padres said in a statement Monday. “We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security issued the following statement to The Athletic on Tuesday. “On August 16, 2026, Border Patrol arrested Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, an illegal alien from Venezuela, at the El Paso International Airport. He entered the country legally on September 10, 2014, and was granted permission by the Obama administration to remain in the country until February 10, 2018. In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome. When approached by law enforcement officers, he was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process.To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”Coaches are not unionized under the Major League Baseball Players Association, but the union provides guidance to players regularly on travel.“A significant percentage of the guys who play in the major and minor leagues are born outside the United States,” the MLBPA said a statement Tuesday. “We continue to support them and their families by working closely with immigration experts to make sure they have what they need to remain in the country safely, and to make sure they carry proper documentation while traveling.“We are available to all players and agents at any time to provide information and support, and we regularly communicate with MLB and club security personnel on matters affecting player travel and security, including travel and security for their families.”MLB declined to comment Tuesday.Avila said Pirela and their family have had pending asylum applications. All members of the family carry temporary ID cards.Oswaldo’s wife said her husband has had no previous encounters with immigration enforcement officials during his time in the U.S. He has been with the Padres organization since January 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile.— Dennis Lin and Evan Drellich contributed to this report. Aug 24, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms