Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been arrested by immigration authorities and is “being processed for expedited removal from the United States,” the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday.
Chavez is a native of Mexico, where he is the subject of an active arrest warrant for his “involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunitions and explosives,” DHS said in a post to social media site X.
Chavez was arrested Wednesday in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Last Saturday, Chavez was in Anaheim, Calif., where the former WBC middleweight champion lost a unanimous decision to influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
In supporting documents, DHS contends Chavez is believed to be affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization once led by the late Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
DHS said ICE had tagged Chavez an “egregious public safety threat” last December but he nonetheless entered the country in early January — before the inauguration of President Donald Trump — at the California/Mexico border.
“Under President Trump, NO ONE is above the law — including world-famous athletes,” DHS said in its news release. “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.”
Chavez, 39, has a career record of 54-7-1 with 34 KOs.
–Field Level Media
