A former Venezuelan baseball player who once guided catchers in the San Diego Padres’ farm system found himself behind bars at an airport in West Texas this weekend.
Oswaldo Pirela, 38, had entered the United States legally in 2014 on a work visa that allowed him to stay until 2018. He never left, instead building a life in Peoria, Arizona, where he raised a wife and two children who are U.S. citizens.
The family’s attorney says Pirela filed an asylum application in 2015, citing political persecution and threats back home. The claim remains pending, but immigration officials contend the visa expired and that he is now removable.
On Sunday, ICE officers detained Pirela at El Paso International Airport as he attempted to board a flight back to the United States. The detention was first reported by local media and later confirmed by the agency.
A career in baseball meets immigration enforcement
The San Diego Padres, for whom Pirela served as a minor‑league catching coach, issued a brief statement saying they are cooperating with authorities and that the matter is being handled by the appropriate government agencies.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed Pirela in custody pending a removal hearing. Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security say the case illustrates the enforcement of visa overstay rules, even for long‑term residents.