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Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was arrested days after losing to Jake Paul, accused of cartel ties and visa violations.
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Officials say he had illegal weapons, but his lawyer calls it political.
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The case has reignited debates on immigration and Latino athletes.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was taken into custody by ICE officers in Studio City, Los Angeles, just days after his tough loss to Jake Paul in Anaheim.
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According to US authorities, the 39-year-old ex-middleweight champ is set to be deported under an active Mexican warrant linking him to the Sinaloa cartel’s organised crime, including firearms and explosives trafficking.
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The Department of Homeland Security has branded him a “criminal illegal alien” and kicked off expedited removal proceedings.
Officials also claim he overstayed a tourist visa in February and tried to fraudulently obtain US residency by marrying an American citizen connected to the cartel.
His US record also shows a January 2024 arrest for possessing an illegal assault weapon, which authorities point to as part of a concerning pattern.
Michael Goldstein, Chavez Jr’s lawyer, describes the accusations as “outrageous” and driven by politics.
“This is nothing more than another headline to terrorise the Latin community,” – he told NBC.
The arrest has rekindled discussions about immigration, criminal justice, and the perception of Latino athletes, occurring immediately after a widely reported loss and amid heated border-policy discussions.
As deportation looms and legal fights approach, the boxing community and beyond is bracing for the next chapter in Chavez Jr’s stormy journey.
