Julio César Chávez Jr., the former boxing champion, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Wednesday. He is now facing deportation to Mexico due to overstaying his visa and providing false information on his green card application.
Chávez’s arrest comes shortly after he lost a boxing match against influencer Jake Paul in Anaheim, California. As a Mexican citizen, Chávez has a troubling history, including alleged connections to the Sinaloa Cartel, which is recognized as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. He is currently facing organized crime charges in Mexico.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, stated that Chávez was arrested due to an active warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives. She highlighted that under the previous Trump administration, individuals linked to cartels would not be allowed to remain in the U.S., contrasting that with the current administration’s approach.
McLaughlin expressed her surprise that Chávez was allowed to re-enter the U.S. despite being flagged as a public safety threat. She emphasized that the government is committed to finding and holding accountable individuals associated with cartel activities.
According to Homeland Security, Chávez is undergoing expedited removal from the U.S. due to his illegal status. He has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and weapons trafficking.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed hope that Chávez will be deported and serve his sentence in Mexico. Chávez’s B2 tourist visa expired in February 2024, and he filed a green card application two months later based on his marriage to an American citizen with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
In December 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services referred Chávez to ICE, labeling him an "egregious public safety threat." Despite this, he was paroled into the U.S. under the Biden administration.
ICE determined on June 27 that Chávez was in the country illegally, following multiple false statements on his residency application. His criminal record includes several serious offenses. In 2012, he was convicted of DUI and sentenced to jail time and probation. In January 2023, he was issued an arrest warrant for organized crime related to weapons trafficking. Just a year later, he was arrested for illegal possession of an assault weapon and manufacturing a short-barreled rifle, for which he was also convicted.
Chávez’s legal troubles and his connections to organized crime have raised significant concerns about public safety, leading to his current legal predicament.