The sex crimes charges All-Star closer Felipe Vázquez is facing could be enough to get him deported if he's convicted, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal quoted an official who acknowledged “ICE is aware of the charges and is closely monitoring the case."

The Pittsburgh Pirates closer, 28, is currently being held in Allegheny County (Pa.) after he was denied bail on charges of child pornography and solicitation of sex from a 13-year-old girl.

However, Vázquez is a native of Venezuela, where the unstable political climate there could make it extremely difficult for U.S. officials to deport him.

A Pirates spokesperson told the Journal that Vázquez does have a green card, which allows him to live and work in the U.S., but added that the Pirates "have not communicated directly to anyone in regards to his immigration status."

If Vázquez is convicted and is sent to prison, he would be released to ICE custody after his sentence is over.

Vázquez is a back-to-back All-Star who has saved 65 games over the last two seasons with a 2.22 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 126 appearances. Last week, he and fellow reliever Kyle Crick were involved in a locker-room confrontation that resulted in Crick being injured.

Contributing: Chris Bumbaca