Oswaldo Pirela, a San Diego Padres minor league coach who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week, was released from custody, his wife told ABC 10News’ Laura Acevedo.
The Athletic reported the 34-year-old father of two was released on bond Monday. A family spokesperson confirmed Pirela is home with his family.
The catching coordinator with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas was detained by ICE agents at El Paso International Airport on Aug. 16. Pirela was not carrying his work permit card at the time he was detained, according to The New York Times.
RELATED STORY | 5-year-old boy detained in viral Texas video deported to Mexico with father
Pirela's mother, Naivy Dominguez, told Acevedo that her son had an early-morning flight and was heading home to his wife and daughters in Peoria, Arizona, when he was detained.
The Times reported Pirela and his family are from Venezuela and have pending asylum applications.
In a statement following his detainment, Department of Homeland Security officials said Pirela “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.”
Scripps News Group's San Diego station reached out to DHS for additional details on Pirela's release, and hours after publication of this story, responded with the following statement:
"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 but violated the terms of his admission. When approached by law enforcement officers, he was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country. On August 24, he was released from ICE custody on bond pending his removal proceedings.
To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.
RELATED STORY | 'Mom, what did we do?' Parents recall weeks in ICE family detention
Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return."
“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 Padres said in a statement to ABC 10News.
Pirela has been with the Padres organization since 2024.
This story was originally published by Jermaine Ong and Laura Acevedo with the Scripps News Group station in San Diego.
