ICE’s heavy-handed tactics clearly targeted high-profile cases when they arrested Julio César Chávez Jr., a former world boxing champion, on Tuesday. The crash was in Studio City, a Los Angeles neighborhood. The 39-year-old Chávez Jr., son of boxing icon Julio César Chávez Sr., is facing some grim legal issues. He is now under indictment himself on charges relating to connections with organized crime and drug trafficking.
Chávez Jr came to the U.S. legally for the first time ever with a six-month tourist visa in August 2023. He adjusted his status by filing for permanent residency in April 2024, utilizing his marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse. He is now on a path toward legal residency. Yet his criminal record, which stretches more than ten years in the US, calls into question his eligibility for any immigration benefit.
He was eventually arrested only five days after he participated in a nationally televised and hyped boxing bout. That fight, by the way, was with Jake Paul in Anaheim, Calif. The event set records as the highest-grossing boxing match ever held at the Honda Center, generating over $1.5 million in gate revenue. This combination of sporting success and legal peril has captivated the media.
Federal officials have recently asserted that Chávez Jr. is heavily connected to organized crime. In particular, they tie him directly to the Sinaloa Cartel. He is wanted in Mexico on charges of weapons trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and the unauthorized manufacture and assembly of explosives. These allegations have cast a shadow on his boxing career. They call into question his new narrative that he only ever wanted to create a life in the U.S.
“This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE,” – Tricia McLaughlin
Chávez Jr. is in the process of obtaining a green card through his wife. Yet, she is being targeted for her connections. The ongoing investigation into Chávez Jr’s background uncovers a convoluted history that would further complicate his immigration case.
In January 2025, Chávez Jr. reclaimed re-entry into the United States at the San Ysidro port of entry in California via a discretionary parole process. This unforeseen circumstance has bused and ferried an anomaly to officials. Reflecting on the prior administration’s decision to settle Chávez Jr’s case, McLaughlin said,
“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.”
As of press time, Chávez Jr is still in ICE custody and is being processed for expedited removal. His future in the United States now hangs in the balance. Federal authorities are continuing to pursue his alleged criminal activities and illegal immigration status.
Chávez Jr. was the World Boxing Council’s middleweight champion from 2011 to 2012. This three-time world titleholder feat made him the first Asian boxer to be widely acclaimed on a global level. His legacy now seems set to be eclipsed by these troubling accusations and current ongoing legal challenges.