Federal immigration authorities took a minor-league catching coordinator for the San Diego Padres into custody early Tuesday at El Paso International Airport, as the Trump administration continues its aggressive deportation campaign.
Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, a Venezuelan national, was detained around 4:00 a.m. EDT while attempting to board a flight back to the Phoenix area, where he lives with his family. He had been in El Paso with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate, the Chihuahuas, during their home series against the Salt Lake Bees.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials say Dominguez entered the United States legally in 2014 and was authorized to stay until 2018. He overstayed that authorization by more than eight years, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which reposted news of his detention on social media late Tuesday.
“In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome by more than 8 YEARS,” the DHS post said. “NOBODY is above the law, and he will remain in ICE custody pending removal.”
Dominguez’s family disputes the characterization, saying he has been waiting for years for his asylum case to be processed. His brother, Jorge Heli Pirela, wrote on Instagram that the family fled persecution by the Venezuelan regime and applied for asylum through proper channels.
“Oswaldo, like me and other members of our family, was directly affected by persecution from the Venezuelan regime,” Pirela wrote. “We came to the United States seeking safety through the legal process, applied for asylum through the proper channels, and have worked hard to build our lives and become contributing members of American society.”
Pirela described his brother as “a devoted father, a dedicated coach, an exceptional worker, and someone who has earned the respect of his coworkers, former managers, employers, players, and the communities he has been part of.”
Dominguez has no criminal record, according to his family, and has maintained a valid work permit. He has been with the Padres organization since January 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile. Previously, he served as bench coach for the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm in 2024 and was a minor-league catcher for the Texas Rangers from 2009 to 2011.
The detention is part of a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants, including those with pending asylum claims. In a similar case, a Johns Hopkins researcher was detained by ICE at Baltimore-Washington International Airport earlier this month over a visa overstay. The administration has argued that no one is exempt from immigration enforcement, but critics say the policy is tearing apart families and communities.
Dominguez’s case highlights the precarious situation of many Venezuelan migrants who have fled political and economic turmoil at home. While some have been granted Temporary Protected Status, others like Dominguez have been left in legal limbo, awaiting decisions on their asylum applications for years.
The Padres have not publicly commented on the detention. Dominguez remains in ICE custody pending a removal hearing.
