Mexican Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. Detained by ICE, Faces Deportation

Chávez, 39, was detained for overstaying his tourist visa and his alleged involvement in organized crime, said the Department of Homeland Security.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (L) with his cut man, Miguel Diaz, prior to a light heavyweight bout against Brian Vera at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., on Sept. 28, 2013. Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested in Los Angeles by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just days after his bout against social media influencer Jake Paul.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the 39-year-old is in the process of being deported to Mexico after his arrest in the Studio City neighborhood on July 2.

Chávez, a Mexican citizen, was detained for overstaying his tourist visa, which expired earlier this year. He entered the country legally in 2023.

According to DHS officials, Chávez has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his alleged involvement with the Sinaloa cartel and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

“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 Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a press release.

The former WBC middleweight champion is also accused of making multiple fraudulent statements on an application for Lawful Permanent Resident status in April.

His application was based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, who officials say is connected to the Sinaloa cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of the former cartel leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

His attorney, Michael Goldstein, told The Associated Press the boxer was picked up by federal agents in front of his home.

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

In December 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency within DHS, flagged Chávez as an “egregious public safety threat,” but he was allowed back into the country on Jan. 4 through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

“Under President Trump, no one is above the law—including world-famous athletes,” McLaughlin continued. “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.”

Chávez has faced a number of legal troubles while in the United States including a 2012 DUI and driving without a license in California, along with illegal gun possession charges from last year.

On June 28, Paul defeated Chávez by unanimous decision in a 10-round cruiserweight boxing match at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

The event marked his second fight in four years, after facing career challenges such as failing drug tests, serving suspensions, and missing weight for match-ups.

Chávez is the son of boxing legend Julio César Chávez, who held five different world titles in several weight classes and is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.