San Diego Padres minor league coach is released from ICE custody, family says

Detailed view of a San Diego Padres logo on a pitching mound during batting practice prior to a baseball game between the Padres and Boston Red Sox, May 20, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Brandon Sloter, File) 2026-08-25T23:09:23Z A San Diego Padres minor league coaching coordinator who was detained by federal Immigration officers in Texas has been released on bond, his family said Tuesday. Oswaldo Pirela, who is from Venezuela and lives in Arizona, was back home with his family following his release on Monday, his sister Daniela Pirela said. The Padres also confirmed that Pirela, a catching coordinator in their minor league system, was no longer in custody. “We are pleased that Oswaldo Pirela has been released on bond and reunited with his family. Out of respect for his privacy and the ongoing matter, we will have no further comment at this time,” the team said in a statement. Immigration-and-customs-enforcement" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="159711" data-entity-type="organization">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Pirela at the El Paso International Airport during a work trip on Aug. 16. The Padres have a minor league affiliate team in the city, the El Paso Chihuahuas. The Department of Homeland Security has previously said Pirela came to the U.S. legally in 2014 and “overstayed his welcome” after 2018. His family has disputed Homeland Security’s account and says Pirela had applied for asylum and obtained work permits. DHS did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday. Pirela had a brief minor-league playing career as a catcher in the Texas-rangers" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="15345" data-entity-type="organization">Texas Rangers organization. ___ Turbay is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. LAURA TURBAY Based in Little Rock, Turbay covers Arkansas and surrounding news. She is a Report for America corps member and can be reached on the secure messaging app Signal at laura_turbay86. twitter mailto