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Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE in LA for deportation
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr looks on ahead of his fight against Jake Paul at Honda Center on June 28, 2025, in Anaheim.
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Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. has been detained by federal immigration agents and could soon be deported, according to the Department of Homeland Security in an announcement shared today.
Federal officials said Chávez was arrested in Studio City on Wednesday and that the department is processing him for expedited removal from the U.S. They said Chávez entered the country in August 2023 legally with a B2 tourist visa that expired in February 2024.
The arrest came days after Chávez lost a match against Youtube star and boxer Jake Paul in Anaheim.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that Chávez has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in “organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.” The department accuses the athlete of being an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel.
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Michael A. Goldstein, Chávez's lawyer, called the allegations "outrageous."
"This brazen act appears to be designed to terrorize the community," Goldstein said. "DHS falsely claimed that Mr. Chávez has been convicted of gun charges relating to an arrest in Los Angeles. In fact, Mr. Chávez was granted mental health diversion, is in full compliance and we expect those charges to be dismissed by statute soon. Again, there is no conviction."
“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,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
Trump designated cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, as a foreign terrorist organization. The president has worked to deliver on his campaign promise to crack down on immigration.
Corrected July 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM PDT
A previous version of this story referred to Chávez as a member instead of an affiliate. We regret the error.
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