Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Missing After ICE Arrest, Court Appearance Missed

Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. was arrested by ICE on July 2 for overstaying his visa and allegedly lying on a green card application, with an active arrest warrant in Mexico for ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Despite being scheduled to appear in court to seek early release from a pretrial diversion program for 2024 gun charges, Chávez Jr. failed to appear, and his lawyer does not know his current whereabouts. Two days ago, his attorney learned he was in Department of Homeland Security custody in Hidalgo, Texas, but it remains unclear if he is still in the U.S. The arrest occurred just days after Chávez Jr. fought Jake Paul in Anaheim, raising questions about why he was allowed to compete prior to his detainment. His father, boxing legend Julio Cesar Chávez Sr., has publicly defended him, denying the criminal allegations and expressing frustration with the timing of the arrest. The Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown has played a role in the expedited removal process Chávez Jr. faces to Mexico.