Boxer Julio Chávez Jr. in U.S. immigration custody
The boxer faces an arrest warrant in Mexico for alleged ties to organized crime.
Julio César Chávez Jr. once shone in the ring as the heir apparent to Mexico's most beloved boxer. Today, however, his name is back in the headlines for very different reasons: Irregular migration, alleged links to organized crime, and an arrest in the United States which could end in deportation or even extradition.
On July 2, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents intercepted him in Studio City, a residential area of Los Angeles. He was riding a scooter, apparently aimlessly, when he was approached by more than 20 agents. The operation was no coincidence. Since December 2024, Chávez Jr. has been listed as a "threat to public safety," according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
An expired visa and a costly mistake
The former boxer had legally entered the US in 2023 with a tourist visa. But the permit expired in February 2024. Months later, he attempted to regularize his status by marrying a US citizen, but inconsistencies in his documents and a report of immigration fraud raised alarms.
What seemed like just another case of an expired visa quickly escalated into something more serious.
Accusations that cross borders
Mexico is seeking him for alleged involvement in organized crime. The Attorney General's Office issued an arrest warrant in 2023 for his possible involvement in arms, ammunition, and explosives trafficking. Furthermore, US media outlets cite reports indirectly linking him to figures from the Sinaloa Cartel.
Although no formal drug trafficking charges have been confirmed, he has come under scrutiny because his current partner has allegedly been linked to relatives of "El Chapo" Guzmán, fueling speculation about his entourage.
His father, Julio César Chávez, has been open about his son's struggles. In past statements, He confessed his frustration at not having been able to avoid his decline, marked by addictions and bad decisions.
Deportation or extradition
Chávez Jr. remains in federal custody while his expedited deportation is processed. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stated that she awaits his return so he can face justice in Mexico. The process could be accelerated if the United States considers the Mexican evidence valid or if Chávez does not challenge his expulsion.
For now, the former boxer faces a new fight, this time outside the ring and without gloves: that of his freedom, his reputation, and his future.
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