DHS Announces ICE Arrest of Mexican Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Linked to Sinaloa Cartel and Facing Active Criminal Warrant

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., processing him for expedited removal from the United States. Chavez has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for organized crime involvement and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives. He entered the U.S. legally with a B2 tourist visa in August 2023. Chavez is linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. ICE arrested him in Studio City, California on July 2.

Chavez applied for Lawful Permanent Resident status in April 2024 based on marriage to a U.S. citizen connected to the Sinaloa Cartel. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services referred him to ICE as a public safety threat on December 17, 2024. Despite this, a DHS entry under the Biden administration did not prioritize his removal. Chavez reentered the country on January 4, 2025, but was found to be illegally present and removable on June 27, 2025.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the previous administration for not prioritizing Chavez's removal. She emphasized that no one, including famous athletes, is above the law. President Trump designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, aiming to combat cartel violence in the U.S.

Chavez's criminal record includes DUI charges in 2012 and arrests for organized crime and illegal possession of weapons in subsequent years.

According to the source: Homeland Security (.gov).