ICE detains San Diego Padres minor league coach at El Paso airport

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained a San Diego Padres' staffer at the El Paso International Airport Sunday, the DHS confirmed.

DHS alleged 34-year-old Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, the team's minor league catching coordinator, was staying in the U.S. illegally.

According to Dominguez' brother's Instagram post, the minor league coach was traveling on a work assignment with the Padres.

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A post shared by Jorge Heli Pirela (@webjp1)

Below is a statement a DHS spokesperson sent to ABC News:

"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 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. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process.

To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.

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."

The San Diego Padres said it's aware of Pirela's detainment and is "working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”