Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was taken into custody by federal immigration brokers on Wednesday (July 3) in Los Angeles, simply days after shedding a high-profile boxing match to Jake Paul, resulting from a sequence of felony convictions and alleged cartel ties that led to his expedited elimination proceedings.
The Division of Homeland Safety confirmed Thursday (July 3) that Chavez is being processed for deportation after overstaying his visa and submitting what authorities described as “a number of fraudulent statements” in his software for everlasting residency. The previous WBC middleweight champion entered the U.S. legally in August 2023 on a B2 vacationer visa, which expired in February 2024.
Chavez, 38, was convicted earlier this 12 months in Los Angeles for possessing an assault weapon and for manufacturing or importing a short-barreled rifle. He additionally has a 2012 DUI conviction within the U.S. and an lively arrest warrant in Mexico tied to alleged arms trafficking for the Sinaloa Cartel, in line with DHS.
In April, Chavez utilized for a inexperienced card based mostly on his marriage to a U.S. citizen. Nonetheless, DHS officers mentioned his partner had prior ties to the Sinaloa Cartel by way of a relationship with the deceased son of cartel chief Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
By December 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies flagged Chavez as “an egregious public security risk” and referred his case to ICE. Regardless of that, DHS famous that “an entry in a DHS regulation enforcement system underneath the Biden administration indicated Chavez was not an immigration enforcement precedence.”
Chavez reentered the U.S. in January 2024 by way of the San Ysidro port of entry. DHS decided on June 27 that he was within the nation unlawfully and topic to elimination.
“It’s surprising the earlier administration flagged this felony unlawful alien as a public security risk, however selected to not prioritize his elimination and let him go away and COME BACK into our nation,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned in an announcement. “Beneath President Trump, nobody is above the regulation—together with world-famous athletes.”
McLaughlin added, “Our message to any cartel associates within the U.S. is obvious: We are going to discover you and you’ll face penalties. The times of unchecked cartel violence are over.”
Chavez’s arrest got here simply 4 days after his loss to Paul on the Honda Middle in Anaheim, California. Paul received the 10-round bout by unanimous determination, incomes his first official rating at No. 14 within the WBA cruiserweight division.
Chavez is the son of Julio Cesar Chavez, a boxing icon who held world titles in 4 weight lessons.
Chavez was deemed detachable from america on June 27.
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