ICE Detains Padres Coach at El Paso Airport

The Padres said in a statement: "We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas. We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time."

Daniela Pirela said her brother followed the rules. "He did everything lawfully as the U.S. asks," she said. "He loves this country." She told NBC News she believes he was targeted because of his active asylum case: "There isn't a reason why they detained him. They still haven't told us."

His brother, Jorge Heli Pirela, wrote on Instagram that the family fled "persecution from the Venezuelan regime" and "applied for asylum through the proper channels," calling Oswaldo "a devoted father, a dedicated coach, an exceptional worker."

His mother, Naivy Dominguez, said on Instagram that he is "being unjustly detained, even though his lawful history in this country can be documented," and asked supporters to "speak up."

The detention drew anger online. Sportswriter Clarence Hill Jr. posted on X: "How many people in Major League Baseball voted for this, supported this[?] How many on Padres and Rangers from the field to the owners box." Journalist Julie K. Brown wrote, "Tell me again how we were only going to target 'criminals.'" Former Rep. Joe Walsh, an Illinois Republican, posted a profane attack on President Trump and ICE.

ICE and Major League Baseball did not immediately respond to requests for comment from NBC News.