IN THE RING AND UNDER FIRE
- DHS confirms Chavez Jr. arrested for visa fraud and alleged cartel ties days after losing to Jake Paul
- Authorities call Chavez an “egregious public safety threat” with convictions for weapons violations
- ICE signals shift in immigration enforcement under Trump-era policies targeting high-profile foreign nationals
By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald
Federal agents arrested former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Los Angeles on July 3, just four days after his highly publicized loss to Jake Paul. Chavez now faces deportation proceedings after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uncovered explosive allegations linking him to cartel activity and fraudulent immigration filings.
The 38-year-old boxer, son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa in August 2023, which expired in February. According to DHS, Chavez unlawfully reentered through the San Ysidro port of entry in January 2024 after being flagged by federal officials for “multiple fraudulent statements” in his application for a green card.
“Chavez is being processed for expedited removal based on visa overstay, criminal history, and national security concerns,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “He was previously deemed a public safety threat. Yet under the prior administration, immigration enforcement failed to act.”
That public safety threat designation stems from Chavez’s criminal record: earlier this year, he was convicted in Los Angeles for possession of an assault weapon and for manufacturing or importing a short-barreled rifle. He also has a 2012 U.S. DUI conviction and is subject to an active arrest warrant in Mexico related to alleged arms trafficking for the Sinaloa Cartel.
