Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was arrested by officers with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday in Studio City, DHS announced on X.
Chavez, 39, is the son of legendary boxing icon Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. DHS officials said Chavez is facing expedited removal proceedings due to legal and immigration issues that include a DUI conviction in 2012 and a federal weapons conviction in 2024.
Chavez recently fought Jake Paul at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Chavez had not addressed his arrest on his official social media accounts as of midday Thursday.
“Under President Trump, no one is above the law — including world-famous athletes,” the department said. “Our message to any cartel affiliates in the United States is clear: We will find you, and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over.”
According to DHS, Chavez entered the United States in August 2023 on a B2 tourist visa and applied for lawful permanent residency in April 2024 based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen.
However, authorities allege that his application contained fraudulent information and that his spouse had prior connections to the Sinaloa Cartel through a previous relationship. DHS officials say Chavez has ties to the group and is wanted in Mexico for crimes related to weapons trafficking and organized criminal activity.
Federal agents deemed Chavez deportable on June 27.
“This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “It is shocking that the previous administration flagged this individual as a public safety threat but chose not to prioritize his removal, allowing him to leave and return to our country.
Chavez’s arrest comes as President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy, a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign, unfolds across Southern California with frequent raids targeting individuals, workplaces, and gathering places for day laborers.
The Department of Homeland Security insists its enforcement operations are “highly targeted,” often focused on those who are living in the U.S. illegally and have criminal records. The number of arrests was believed to be in the hundreds as of early July.
The department also says its enforcement officers have faced an exponential increase in assaults against them.
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