Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. lost his boxing match against Jake Paul last weekend in Anaheim, and now the former WBC middleweight champion will lose his right to reside in the United States, thanks to outstanding warrants (and allegations of organized crime) in Mexico.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest on social media.
“This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “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.”
Trump recently designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, colloquially known as ICE, was created to “protect America through criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety,” per the website’s mission statement.
“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.”
Here’s the current rap sheet for Chavez Jr., directly from Homeland Security:
On January 22, 2012, California Highway Patrol arrested Chavez and charged him with DUI alcohol/drugs and Driving Without a License. On June 23, 2012, the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, convicted Chavez for the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol and sentenced him to 13 days in jail and 36 months’ probation.
On January 14, 2023, a District Judge issued an arrest warrant for Chavez, for the offense of organized crime for the purpose of committing crimes of weapons trafficking and manufacturing crimes, in the modality of those who participate in clandestinely bringing weapons, ammunition, cartridges, explosives into the country; and those who manufacture weapons, ammunition, cartridges, and explosives without the corresponding permit.
On January 7, 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Chavez and charged him with Illegal Possession of Any Assault Weapon and Manufacture or Import Short Barreled Rifle. The court convicted Chavez of these charges.
The DHS report claims the Biden administration did not view Chavez Jr. as an “immigration enforcement priority.”
Prior to his Paul loss, Chavez Jr. — son of legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez — captured a unanimous decision victory over former UFC middleweight Uriah Hall at Paul’s “Fear No Man” pay-per-view (PPV) event back in summer 2024.
Chavez Jr., now 39, stands at 54-7-1, 1 NC with 34 knockouts.
