Dressed in a gray suit, white shirt and tie, Tejada told U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay at the federal courthouse in Washington that he had made the misleading statement during a transcribed interview with congressional staffers in 2005 over the use of banned performance-enhancing substances in major league baseball.

A news conference will be held at 5 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.

Accompanied by a defense team led by Mark Touhey of Vinson & Elkins, a subdued Tejada conceded that he had violated the law during a congressional probe of the use of steroids and human growth hormone by baseball players.

"Your plea of guilty may have some impact on your immigration status here in the United States," Kay told Tejada.

Tejada responded that he understood and had discussed his fate with his attorney.

Kay’s remarks were translated into Spanish for him by a Spanish-language interpreter, but he responded in English. The native of the Dominican Republic responded to the judge’s questions with "yes, your honor" and "no, your honor."

First, I don’t get putting the description of his suit near the top of the story. Did the reporter expect him to be wearing his Astros uniform?

Second, the judge’s mention of the immigration status is troubling, but Tejada’s reference to discussing this with his attorney may mean that he feels like he has some assurance that he will be able to stay in the U.S. I would hope that Tejada’s attorney knew what the U.S. Attorney’s sentencing recommendation will be before he let Tejada plead guilty…and hopefully it includes some assurance on his immigration status.

Third, I am far from an immigration expert, but I thought I had read previously that it is easier to stay in the U.S. with a conviction than it is to get a VISA to come in to the U.S. And,if that is true, Tejada may need to stay away from occasional visits to his home country.