ICE Reportedly Monitoring Felipe Vazquez Situation and Could Deport Pirates Pitcher

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez is facing serious charges of child pornography and soliciting sex from a 13-year-old girl. Things could get much worse for the MLB closer.

The United States' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is keeping tabs on the charges, and if he's convicted, the agency might consider deporting Vazquez to his native Venezuela.

New with @louiseradnofsky: ICE is "closely monitoring" the Felipe Vázquez case, raising the possibility that the U.S. could seek to deport him if he is convicted of the crimes he has been charged with. https://t.co/KDQTBckGfU
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) September 19, 2019

"ICE is aware of the charges and is closely monitoring the case," an ICE official told the Wall Street Journal.

Vazquez is a native of Venezuela, but deportation could present itself as difficult for ICE. Venezuela is currently in a state of political instability, as the United States' ties with the country are severed under President Nicolas Maduro. Taking that into account, Vazquez could face a longer sentence in a state prison, as his legal team would be unable to negotiate a shorter prison length in exchange for deportation.

The Pirates closer is currently being held in Allegheny County Jail after being denied bail. A Pirates spokesperson revealed that Vazquez has a green card to permanently live in the United States. However, with the felonies he's charged with, the card can be revoked.

Police said Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez admitted that he drove nearly an hour in 2017 to meet a 13-year-old girl and tried to have sex with her, according to a criminal complaint released today. After a failed attempt, Vazquez, then 26, left to go to a game, per the complaint.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 18, 2019

The spokesperson stressed to the Wall Street Journal that the organization "have not communicated directly to anyone in regards to his immigration status."

If Vazquez is convicted, he would be released to the ICE once his sentence is over. From there, it will depend on if the political climate in Venezuela has improved or not. If so, the United States would be able to deport him. If not, they would hold Vazquez up to six months until they can arrange his removal. But if they can't do so in that span, Vazquez would be declared "unremovable" and his attorneys would fight for his release from ICE custody.