Padres Coach Detained by ICE in Texas; Team Monitoring Situation

A coach within the San Diego Padres organization remains in federal custody after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend. Oswaldo Pirela, the team’s minor-league catching coordinator, was taken into custody in El Paso, Texas, according to team confirmations.

The Padres issued a statement acknowledging they were aware of the situation involving Pirela but stated they are currently gathering details. The incident occurred while Pirela was traveling from the team’s Triple-A affiliate located in El Paso. Reports indicate he was en route to his family’s home in Phoenix at the time of the detainment.

Family members have spoken publicly about the incident. Pirela’s sister, Daniela, told NBC News that her brother was detained around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday while he was traveling for work. Additionally, Pirela’s brother, Jorge, posted a message on Instagram requesting his brother’s release.

Currently, the ICE detainee locator lists Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez as being held at the El Paso Processing Center. It has been reported that Pirela was not in possession of his work permit card when he was detained.

The Padres organization is currently owned by a private equity group led by Peter Seidler. While the team is not publicly traded, Major League Baseball games are broadcast extensively on regional sports networks, many of which are operated by large media conglomerates. Comcast Corporation, the parent company of NBCUniversal and owner of regional sports networks, holds significant rights to broadcast sports content. Shares of Comcast were trading at $25.57 on Tuesday.

What to watch

• Team Statement: The Padres indicated they would not have further comment until more information is gathered.
• Legal Status: Updates regarding Pirela’s status at the El Paso Processing Center.

Source: original release