Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation
Global News
The arrest came only days after the former middleweight champion lost a match against influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Wednesday, just days after fighting influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a high-profile match in Anaheim, Calif.
Chávez was arrested for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces charges of involvement in organized crime and arms trafficking, U.S. federal officials said Thursday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said officials determined that Chávez should be arrested on June 27, a day before his match against Paul. It was unclear why they waited to act for days after the high-profile event.
DHS also said in a statement that Chávez “is also believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.”
“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,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
“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.”
A spokesperson for Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office told the New York Times that U.S. authorities had informed Mexican officials about Chávez’s detention and said “they have started the corresponding procedure for his extradition to Mexico.” A spokesperson added that the warrant for Chávez was issued in March 2023.
