San Diego Padres minor-league staffer detained by ICE after arrest in Texas

San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela remained in federal immigration custody on Tuesday after being detained at an airport in El Paso, Texas, while returning from a work trip. Pirela’s family said the 34-year-old Venezuelan has a pending asylum claim and has continually renewed his work authorization. The Department of Homeland Security said he does not have legal status and will face removal proceedings.

Pirela was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at El Paso International Airport early on Sunday, according to his relatives. His sister, Daniela Pirela, told NBC News that he was stopped at about 5am. His wife, Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic that he had been preparing to fly home to Arizona.

Pirela had been working with the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate. His family said he regularly travels for his role with the organization. Avila said the club was helping them and that she had spoken with her husband since his detention.

According to ESPN, Pirela’s brother said he was not carrying his physical work-permit card when he was stopped. Avila told The Athletic that the family have pending asylum applications and carry temporary identification cards. Pirela arrived in the US from Venezuela and applied for asylum in 2014, his relatives said.

They said he fled political persecution and has renewed his work authorization whenever it approached expiration. His family also said he is pursuing an EB-2 visa, an employment-based route to permanent residency. DHS disputed the family’s description of his immigration status.

The department told CNN that Pirela entered the US illegally in 2014 and received permission to remain until February 2018. Officials said he stayed beyond that date and was not carrying documentation giving him legal status when he was approached. DHS said he would remain in ICE custody while removal proceedings continued.