Former Boxing Champion Chavez Jr. Arrested California Faces Deportation Organized Crime Charges

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., former WBC middleweight boxing champion, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California for overstaying his visa and faces deportation to Mexico where he has an active warrant for charges including organized crime and trafficking firearms. Despite warnings from U.S. authorities labeling him a public safety threat and accusations of fraudulent statements on his green card application—which was based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen linked to the Sinaloa Cartel—Chavez Jr. was allowed re-entry into the U.S. and recently fought Jake Paul in a high-profile match. Chavez Jr.'s attorney and family maintain his innocence, calling the allegations outrageous, while Mexican authorities continue investigations that began in 2019. His father, boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., also denies the criminal accusations and has vowed to fight for his son. U.S. officials criticized prior decisions that allowed Chavez Jr. to remain in the country despite his flagged status, leading to his expedited removal following the arrest.