Former middleweight boxing champion Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Studio City, California, just days after his boxing match against Jake Paul in Anaheim. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest, citing an active warrant in Mexico for Chávez Jr.’s alleged involvement in organized crime, including arms trafficking, and possible connections to the Sinaloa drug cartel. The 39-year-old Mexican boxer now faces expedited removal from the United States.
According to DHS, Chávez Jr. was detained for violating the terms of a tourist visa that expired in February 2024. He had entered the U.S. legally in August 2023 and later applied for permanent residency in April 2024, citing marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, federal officials flagged the application due to alleged “multiple fraudulent statements” and his suspected ties to the Sinaloa cartel, which the Trump administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The arrest warrant from Mexico, issued in March 2023, accuses Chávez Jr. of organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE,” emphasizing that “no one is above the law.” Chávez Jr.’s attorney, Michael Goldstein, described the arrest as involving a large group of federal agents apprehending the boxer while he was riding a scooter outside his home. Goldstein called the allegations “outrageous” and argued they were designed to generate headlines, asserting that Chávez Jr. is not a threat to the community.
This is not Chávez Jr.’s first encounter with the law. In January 2024, he was arrested in Los Angeles on felony gun possession charges after police found two AR-style ghost rifles in his possession. He pleaded not guilty, entered a residential treatment program, and was granted pretrial diversion, according to court records. These prior legal issues, combined with the current allegations, have intensified scrutiny on the boxer’s personal and professional life.
Chávez Jr. is currently being processed for deportation to Mexico, where he will face the outstanding charges. His attorney indicated that a court appearance is scheduled for Monday, though his exact location remains unclear. The case has raised questions about Chávez Jr.’s future in boxing and his personal struggles, which have long been overshadowed by his father’s iconic legacy.
Nicknamed “El Hijo de la Leyenda” (Son of the Legend), Chávez Jr. has faced immense pressure to live up to his father’s reputation as one of Mexico’s greatest boxers. Despite his accomplishments in the ring, his career has been marred by legal and personal challenges, including this latest arrest, which could mark a significant turning point.
