Boxer Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE, to be deported

Federal immigration agents detained renowned Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. on Wednesday outside his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Famed Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. has been arrested for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organized crime charges, federal officials said Thursday.

The arrest comes only days after the former middleweight champion fought in a match Saturday against Jake Paul in Anaheim, California. The Department of Homeland Security reported that officials decided to arrest Chávez on June 27, the day before the fight.

Chavez Jr., the son of longtime boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, entered the country on a tourist visa in August 2023, which expired in February 2024, according to Thursday’s release.

The DHS claimed that Chávez was being processed "for expedited removal from the United States." “Chávez is a Mexican citizen who has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.”

In June 2011, Chávez won the middleweight championship and defended it three bouts. He was defeated Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, by influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a 10-round cruiserweight fight.

Chávez was born in Sinaloa, Mexico, and is the son of a previous champion boxer in many divisions. He made his debut as a professional boxer as a teenager in 2002.

The detention comes after weeks of federal immigration enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area after President Donald Trump made the issue a central part of his campaign.

The 39-year-old boxer was picked up by a large number of federal agents while he was riding a scooter in front of his home in Studio City, according to Chávez's attorney Michael Goldstein.

"The current allegations are outrageous and simply another headline to terrorize the community," Goldstein said.

In December, Citizenship and Immigration Services made a referral to ICE that Chávez is a “egregious public safety threat,” DHS said. He was permitted to come back into the nation through the San Ysidro Port of Entry near San Diego in January.

He is accused of multiple “fraudulent statements” on the application for lawful permanent residence, according to the DHS, which deemed him removable from the United States on June 27.

“This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE. It is shocking 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,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Under President Trump, no one is above the law — including world-famous athletes. Our message to any cartel affiliates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over.”

The fight between Paul and Chavez Jr. took place in Anaheim, California, just a few miles down the freeway from Los Angeles. The Mexican boxer was heavily cheered by the crowd, though he was soundly defeated in his second fight in four years.

The 39-year-old has a career record of 54-7-1 with 34 knockouts.