U.S. immigration agents have arrested famed Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The authorities plan to deport him to Mexico, where he faces an active arrest warrant for alleged involvement in organized crime, officials announced. The arrest comes just days after the Jake Paul fight at Anaheim’s Honda Center.
The Department of Homeland Security stated in a news release that authorities arrested Chávez Jr. on Wednesday in Studio City, California. Officials allege that he is “believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel.”
“Under President Trump, no one is above the law – including world-famous athletes,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “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.”
ICE announced plans to deport Chávez to Mexico, where an active arrest warrant awaits him. The agency determined that Chávez was in the U.S. illegally and subject to removal after discovering “multiple fraudulent statements” on his application for lawful permanent residency. That determination was made on June 27, 2025 – the same day as his fight.
Who is Julio César Chávez Jr?
Chávez Jr. is the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez, widely considered one of the greatest boxers of all time.
In 2023, a local U.S. judge issued an arrest warrant for Chávez Jr. for allegedly trafficking weapons for a criminal organization. Nearly a decade earlier, in 2012, police arrested him for driving without a license while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Authorities say he also overstayed a tourist visa that expired last February and made multiple fraudulent statements to U.S. immigration officials while attempting to gain permanent residency.
Chávez Jr.’s lawyer, Michael Goldstein, called the arrest “nothing more than another headline to terrorize the Latin community.” When asked about the alleged cartel connection, he said, “This is the first we’ve ever heard of these outrageous allegations.”
Just two weeks before the fight against Jake Paul, Chávez Jr. held a public workout in Los Angeles and spoke about the recent surge in immigration raids across the city.
The Jake Paul fight became a major sporting spectacle, setting the record for the largest boxing gate in Honda Center history. Paul defeated Chávez, positioning himself for a potential title run.
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