The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a Mexican boxing champion and alleged affiliate of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is now undergoing expedited removal from the country.
He was taken into custody amid serious allegations of organized crime and weapons trafficking and faces an active arrest warrant in Mexico.
Chavez, a well-known figure in the boxing world, is the son of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., a legendary athlete widely regarded as one of the most iconic fighters in the history of the sport.
His father’s fame spans generations and holds deep cultural significance in Mexico, where he is considered a national sports hero.
Chavez Jr. entered the U.S. legally in August 2023 on a B2 tourist visa, valid until February 2024.
However, ICE arrested him on Wednesday in Studio City, California, after determining he was residing in the country unlawfully.
He is reportedly tied to the Sinaloa Cartel, which the Trump administration designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The boxer’s legal history includes multiple convictions, according to DHS.
In 2012, Chavez was sentenced to 13 days in jail and 36 months’ probation after being convicted in California for driving under the influence.
In 2023, a judge issued a warrant for his arrest in Mexico on charges related to organized crime, weapons trafficking and explosives violations.
In January 2024, he was again arrested—this time by the Los Angeles Police Department—for illegal possession of assault weapons and the manufacture or import of a short-barreled rifle.
He was later convicted on those charges.
On April 2, 2024, Chavez applied for Lawful Permanent Resident status, citing marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Federal authorities say his wife has past ties to the Sinaloa Cartel through a relationship with the late son of drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Despite a referral from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in December 2024 labeling Chavez an egregious public safety threat, DHS records under the Biden administration did not classify him as an enforcement priority.
Chavez was allowed to reenter the U.S. through the San Ysidro port of entry on January 4, 2025, and was paroled into the country.
ICE later determined that his residency application contained fraudulent statements and ruled him removable as of June 27, 2025.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the previous handling of the case.
“This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE,” she said in a statement.
“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.”
She added, “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.”
The Sinaloa Cartel has been blamed for trafficking fentanyl and carrying out violent attacks against Americans, including the killing of U.S. Marine Corps veteran Nicholas Quets.
President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem have vowed to crack down on cartel activity within the U.S.
The post Famed Boxer and Alleged Cartel Associate Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Arrested by ICE, Faces Swift Deportation appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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