2025-07-03T20:38:00Z

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In a high-profile case that has garnered significant media attention, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested renowned Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr in California, initiating deportation proceedings against him. The agency cited his alleged affiliations with criminal cartels, a history of multiple criminal convictions, and an active arrest warrant in Mexico for serious charges related to weapons trafficking and organized crime.

The 39-year-old Chávez Jr., who is the son of the legendary boxer Julio César Chávez Sr, was taken into custody by ICE agents on Tuesday in Studio City, a neighborhood in Los Angeles famous for its celebrity inhabitants. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chávez Jr had been residing in the U.S. unlawfully and was deemed a significant threat to public safety.

Interestingly, just five days prior to his arrest, Chávez Jr had participated in a highly publicized boxing match against the YouTube star-turned-fighter Jake Paul in Anaheim. This match was noted to be exceptionally lucrative, with the promoter announcing that it became the highest-grossing boxing event ever held at Anaheim’s Honda Center, raking in over $1.5 million in gate revenue alone.

Chávez Jr's journey to the U.S. began with a legal entry on a six-month tourist visa in August 2023. He later filed for permanent residency in April 2024, citing his marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, this application raised significant alarms within federal agencies due to what officials termed “multiple fraudulent statements” and possible connections to the Sinaloa Cartel, a notorious drug-trafficking organization that was designated as a foreign terrorist group by the Trump administration.

The boxer’s arrest occurs against a backdrop of escalating political tension surrounding immigration enforcement under the Biden administration. Approximately a year earlier, internal DHS documents had flagged Chávez Jr as an “egregious public safety threat,” yet his removal from the country was deprioritized. In January 2025, despite these warnings, he was permitted re-entry into the U.S. at the San Ysidro port of entry in California under a discretionary parole process.

In a strongly worded statement, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the previous administration for its failure to act, stating, “This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE. It is shocking that the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat but chose to not prioritize his removal and let him leave and come back into our country.”

Federal officials have asserted that Chávez Jr has enduring connections to organized crime. In Mexico, he faces serious charges related to weapons trafficking and for manufacturing explosives without the necessary authorization. In addition, his criminal record in the United States dates back over a decade, including a DUI conviction in California in 2012. More recently, in January 2024, he faced legal repercussions for illegal possession of an assault weapon and for manufacturing or importing a short-barreled rifle.

The boxer’s career has been marred by struggles with substance abuse and various legal issues, overshadowing what was once a promising career where he held the World Boxing Council’s version of the middleweight title from 2011 to 2012. His recent performances have increasingly been tainted by repeated arrests, erratic behavior, and suspensions.

Chávez Jr’s wife, through whom he filed for a green card, has also come under scrutiny. Reports indicate that she was previously involved with one of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, although she has not faced any charges.

Currently, Chávez Jr remains in ICE custody and will undergo expedited removal proceedings. The boxer’s legal team has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding his situation.

This arrest emphasizes the ongoing friction between immigration enforcement priorities and the pressing concerns regarding public safety.