Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the Mexican boxer who only days ago lost by decision to Jake Paul, was arrested by U.S. immigration officers, the Department of Homeland Security announced in a release on Thursday afternoon.
Chavez, 39, is being processed for expedited deportation, the DHS said. The institution claims that Chavez, the former WBC middleweight champion, has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for involvement in “organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition and explosives.” DHS also claims that Chavez is believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, a drug-trafficking syndicate Donald Trump designated a foreign terrorist organization on his first day in office.
Here’s what you need to know.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. ICE arrest details
According to the DHS, Chavez was arrested in Studio City, California on Wednesday. He stayed in the United States following his defeat to Paul on Saturday.
On July 2, ICE arrested Mexican boxer and criminal illegal alien Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
He is now being processed for expedited removal from the United States. This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and… pic.twitter.com/c4QeRVpCEr
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 3, 2025
In April 2024, Chavez filed an application for Lawful Permanent Resident status, according to DHS. His application was summarily denied, with DHS declaring Chavez to be removable on June 27. Chavez’s fight with Paul took place on June 28.
Chavez first entered the US legally on a six-month tourist visa in August 2023. He cited marriage to a U.S. citizen as the reason for his filing for permanent residency, DHS said. The federal agency claimed that Chavez’s spouse is connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, with officials alleging she was in a relationship with one of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons. She has not been charged with any crime.
In the United States, Chavez was convicted of a DUI in California in 2012 and illegal possession of an assault weapon in Jan. 2024.