The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday announced the arrest of popular Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside of his home in Los Angeles. A Mexican citizen, Chavez Jr., is wanted in Mexico on organized crime charges, DHS officials said.
According to DHS, Chavez Jr. is in the U.S. illegally and will be deported back to Mexico after his B2 tourist visa expired in February. Chavez Jr., a former WBC middleweight champion from 2011 to 2012, is the son of famed boxing world champion Julio Cesar Chavez.
Chavez Jr. is also allegedly believed to be part of the Sinaloa Cartel, DHS said. The Sinaloa Cartel is listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department.
"He [Chavez Jr.] is now being processed for expedited removal from the United States," DHS said. "This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunitions and explosives."
The arrest comes days after Chavez Jr. lost a unanimous twelve-round decision to boxer and social media influencer Jake Paul Saturday in Anaheim. Chavez Jr.,39, holds an overall record of 54-7-1 across 63 professional fights.
Chavez Jr. first won the WBC middleweight title against Sebastian Zbik. He went on to defend the belt three more times before losing it to Sergio Martinez in 2012.
He also fought renowned world champion Canelo Alvarez in 2017 and MMA legend Anderson Silva in 2021, both losses. Chavez Jr.'s last win came in 2024 against Uriah Hall.
DHS said Chavez Jr. applied for a Lawful Permanent Resident status, commonly known as a green card, on April 2, 2024, based on his marriage to Frida Munoz, a U.S. citizen. Munoz is the former partner of Édgar Guzmán López, the deceased son of jailed Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán.
Officials said multiple fraudulent statements on Chavez's green card led to his arrest, which determined he was in the country illegally and removable on June 27, 2025.
On December 17, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services made a referral to ICE that the famed boxer was an "egregious public safety threat." But according to DHS officials, Chavez Jr. was not an immigration enforcement priority under the previous Biden administration.
Just weeks later, on January 4, 2025, the Biden administration allowed Chavez Jr. to reenter the U.S. and paroled him at the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego.
“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,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
