Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. arrested by ICE over cartel connections
- Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was arrested by ICE agents for multiple alleged infractions, including ties to organized crime and firearms trafficking.
- He had entered the U.S. on a tourist visa, which expired in 2024, and was later found to have made fraudulent statements on his residency application.
- Chavez Jr.'s situation reflects broader law enforcement priorities on immigration and cartel violence.
In the United States, former champion boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was arrested on June 27, 2025, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Studio City, California. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Chavez, aged 39, has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime activities, specifically related to trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives. Chavez had legally entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in August 2023, which expired in February 2024. He subsequently filed an application for lawful permanent residency based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, who has connections to the Sinaloa cartel. Furthermore, Chavez was determined to be in the country illegally after making fraudulent statements on his residency application, leading to his detention by ICE just days after a high-profile fight against YouTuber Jake Paul. The Sinaloa cartel has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and Chavez's arrest stems from his alleged affiliation with this criminal organization, as well as his prior legal troubles, which include a DUI conviction in 2012 and charges for illegal possession of weapons in 2024. Following his arrest, he is in the process of being deported to Mexico, where he could face charges for his organized crime activities. This incident highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to enforce immigration laws and combat cartel-related violence.