Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested Wednesday by federal brokers in Studio Metropolis in reference to an energetic warrant and being processed for elimination from the US, the Division of Homeland Safety introduced Thursday.
The 39-year-old former WBC middleweight world champion was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers within the San Fernando Valley neighborhood. DHS mentioned the arrest simply days after a bout in Anaheim stems from an energetic warrant in Mexico and allegations of hyperlinks to the infamous Sinaloa drug cartel.
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained prominent Mexican boxer and criminal illegal alien Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and is processing him for expedited removal from the United States,” the company mentioned. “Chavez is a Mexican citizen who has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.”
Chávez Jr.’s legal professional mentioned he was taken into custody exterior his Studio Metropolis residence by about two dozen legislation enforcement brokers.
The arrest was simply days after Chávez Jr. was defeated Saturday at Honda Heart in Anaheim by influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a 10-round cruiserweight struggle.
Chavez Jr. claimed the middleweight title in June 2011 and defended the title thrice. The son of a former multi-division boxing champion was born within the state of Sinaloa, Mexico and launched into his skilled boxing profession as a teen, making his debut in September 2002.
His arrest comes after weeks of federal immigration enforcement operations within the Los Angeles space after President Trump made the difficulty a central a part of his marketing campaign. Operations have been reported in residential areas, automobile washes, house enchancment retailer parking heaps and different places.
The DHS mentioned Chavez Jr. entered the nation in August 2023 with a B2 vacationer visa that was legitimate till 2024. He filed an software for Lawful Everlasting Resident standing final 12 months primarily based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, whom the division additionally accused of getting connections to the Sinaloa Cartel “through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of the infamous cartel leader Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman.”
In December, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies made a referral to ICE that Chavez Jr. is an “egregious public safety threat,” DHS mentioned. In January, Chavez was allowed to re-enter the nation on the San Ysidro Port of Entry close to San Diego.
He’s accused of a number of “fraudulent statements” on the applying for lawful everlasting residence, in response to the DHS, which deemed him detachable from the US on June 27.
“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,” mentioned DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Under President Trump, no one is above the law—including world-famous athletes. 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.”
NBCLA spoke with Chávez Jr.’s legal professional after the DHS introduced the arrest.
“This appears to be nothing more than another headline to terrorize the Latin community,” legal professional Michael A. Goldstein mentioned, referring to current immigration enforcement operations in Southern California. “On the case involving weapons, a courtroom granted psychological well being diversion, which Mr. Chávez was each eligible and appropriate for beneath state statutes. He’s in full compliance together with his diversion, has accomplished all necessities requested of him, and we count on the case to be dismissed beneath the diversion statutes.
Goldstein was requested in regards to the cartel allegations.
“This is the first we’ve ever heard of these outrageous allegations,” he mentioned.
In January, the Trump administration designated drug cartels as international terrorist organizations in an order that mentioned the organizations “constitute a national-security threat beyond that posed by traditional organized crime.”
In the course of the immigration enforcement raids in Southern California, the administration has highlighted arrests involving undocumented people with violent crime convictions. Those that have been caught up within the nationwide raids embody asylum seekers, individuals who overstayed their visas and migrants awaiting their day in immigration courtroom.
