San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator Oswaldo José Pirela was released from ICE custody on bond on August 24, 2026, after being detained on August 16 at El Paso International Airport. While the Department of Homeland Security asserts Pirela overstayed a 2014 visa and faces ongoing removal proceedings, his family disputes this, pointing to pending asylum applications and a work permit valid through 2029. Pirela has returned to Arizona and retained an attorney to fight deportation.
Pirela ICE bond release
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela, a San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator, was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on bond on August 24, 2026.
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela was detained by Border Patrol on August 16, 2026, at El Paso International Airport in Texas while traveling home from a work assignment.
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela returned to his home in Peoria, Arizona, to be with his family, including his wife and two daughters, following his release on August 24, 2026.
Immigration status dispute
- ▪The Department of Homeland Security stated that Oswaldo José Pirela was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country when approached by law enforcement officers on August 16, 2026.
- ▪The family of Oswaldo José Pirela disputed the Department of Homeland Security's claim that he was in the country illegally, asking the agency to prove his illegal status with documentation.
- ▪The Department of Homeland Security stated that Oswaldo José Pirela entered the United States legally on September 10, 2014, and was granted permission to stay until February 10, 2018, but overstayed.
Asylum application pending
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela and his wife, Kemberly Avila, have pending applications for political asylum in the United States.
- ▪The Department of Homeland Security stated that a pending application for asylum and work authorization do not confer legal status in the United States.
Work authorization documentation
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela's brother, Jorge Pirela, stated that Oswaldo José Pirela was not carrying his work permit at the time he was detained at El Paso International Airport.
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela's brother, Juan Pirela, presented a work permit for Oswaldo José Pirela issued in 2024 and valid until 2029.
DHS removal proceedings
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela has retained an immigration attorney to dispute the Department of Homeland Security's version of his stay and prevent his removal.
- ▪The Department of Homeland Security stated that proceedings to remove Oswaldo José Pirela from the United States remain on track following his release on bond.
Padres organizational response
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela is in his third season working for the San Diego Padres, having previously served as the bench coach for the organization's Low-A affiliate in 2024.
- ▪San Diego Padres spokesperson Craig Hughner stated the team is pleased with Oswaldo José Pirela's release but would have no further comment out of respect for his privacy.
- ▪Oswaldo José Pirela played as a catcher in the Dominican Summer League for the Texas Rangers organization from 2009 to 2011.
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