Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. just took another loss, this time outside the ring. Days after dropping a clear-cut decision to Jake Paul in Anaheim, the former WBC middleweight champion has been arrested by ICE and now faces deportation back to Mexico.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, stating that Julio Cesar Chavez was taken into custody on July 2 in California. According to officials, the Mexican fighter has an active arrest warrant in his home country tied to serious criminal allegations. DHS alleges Chavez is connected to organized crime and is involved in trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
In a press release, DHS didn’t hold back. They labeled Chavez an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, which they called a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. His immigration status was already under scrutiny, and now the government is moving to remove him from the U.S. through expedited deportation.
Chavez had filed for permanent resident status in April 2024, citing marriage to a U.S. citizen. But the DHS claims that the woman is linked to the Sinaloa Cartel through a past relationship with a deceased son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Things escalated in December 2024 when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services flagged Chavez as an egregious public safety threat. Despite that, the Biden administration did not list him as a removal priority at the time, and he was allowed reentry in January 2025.
According to ICE, Chavez submitted fraudulent information during his green card application process, and by June 27, he was officially declared to be in the country illegally.
“This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“It is shocking the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat but chose to not prioritize his removal and let him leave and come back into our country. Under President Trump, no one is above the law—including world-famous athletes. Our message to any cartel affiliates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over.”
Chavez is now in federal custody, awaiting deportation. His legal team, however, isn’t staying quiet. Defense attorney Michael Goldstein pushed back on the charges, calling the allegations unfounded.
“The current allegations are outrageous and simply another headline to terrorize the community,” Goldstein said.
Chavez is also due in court Monday on a separate matter related to gun possession charges from 2024.
The arrest follows his return to the boxing ring this past Saturday, where Julio Cesar Chavez dropped a unanimous decision to Jake Paul. The former champ never found his rhythm and was visibly frustrated post-fight. He took to Instagram, firing off a raw message to fans.
“I could never knock him out. I couldn’t knock out Jake Paul,” Chavez said. “Whoever the judges want, wins. I put on a great show and well, I hit him in the ass like I said I was going to. He said he was gonna drive me crazy, no, no. Here I am ready for what’s next, thank you everyone.”
With the loss, Chavez’s pro record now stands at 54-7-1 and one no contest. His future inside the ring remains uncertain. His future in the U.S. looks even more so.
