ICE has no preference: boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested and deported to Mexico

Through social media, the federal agency reported that the Mexican athlete has an active arrest warrant in his country for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking in firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Immigration officials arrested Chavez Jr. in Studio City , and he is now in the process of being expeditiously deported from the U.S. , according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency that oversees ICE.

According to U.S. authorities, the son of boxing legend Julio César Chávez had been identified as a threat to public safety, but the Biden administration indicated in internal records that he was "not a priority" for immigration enforcement.

In a statement, the DHS referred to the young man as an "affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel." Regarding this situation, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated: "Under President Trump, No one is above the law, not even world-famous athletes."

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

Chávez Jr. entered the country legally in August 2023 on a B2 tourist visa valid through February 2024. He had applied for lawful permanent residence in April of last year, based on his marriage to Frida Chávez , a U.S. citizen, who, according to DHS, "is linked to the Sinaloa Cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of infamous cartel leader Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán."

"After making multiple fraudulent statements in his application for legal permanent residence, it was determined that he was in the country illegally on June 27," authorities explained.

The Los Angeles Police Department had arrested Chavez Jr. last January, charging him with illegal possession of any assault weapon and manufacturing or importing a short-barreled rifle. He was later convicted on the charges. He also had other criminal records dating back to 2012.