Julio César Chávez Jr. Faces Deportation Over Visa Fraud

Julio César Chávez Jr. Faces Deportation Over Visa Fraud \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested in California for visa overstay and green card fraud. U.S. officials say he faces deportation and is wanted in Mexico for organized crime charges. His arrest follows a high-profile fight loss to influencer Jake Paul.

Quick Looks

• Detained in Los Angeles for visa overstay and fraudulent green card application
• Faces deportation to Mexico, where he’s wanted for organized crime and arms trafficking
• Arrest followed loss to Jake Paul, with DHS planning action before the fight
• Tied to Sinaloa Cartel, married to El Chapo’s granddaughter’s mother
• Pending U.S. gun charges from 2024, involving illegal AR-style ghost rifles
• Reportedly an “egregious public safety threat”, flagged by U.S. immigration authorities
• Mexico filed extradition request, confirming warrant issued in March 2023

Deep Look

Former WBC middleweight boxing champion Julio César Chávez Jr. has been arrested by U.S. federal agents for immigration violations and fraud, and is now facing deportation to Mexico, where he is wanted on charges of organized crime and arms trafficking. The arrest, confirmed Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has thrown Chávez Jr.’s tumultuous career into deeper turmoil, days after he was defeated in a high-profile match against social media influencer Jake Paul in Anaheim, California.

According to DHS officials, Chávez was taken into custody on Wednesday while riding a scooter in Studio City, an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood. His attorney, Michael Goldstein, called the arrest a “terror tactic,” adding that the charges are exaggerated. However, authorities say Chávez overstayed his tourist visa, which expired in February 2024, and submitted false information in an April 2024 green card application based on his marriage to Frida Muñoz—a U.S. citizen and the mother of a granddaughter of jailed drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Chávez’s immigration issues are compounded by allegations of cartel connections. U.S. officials believe the 39-year-old boxer is affiliated with the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, long accused of fueling Mexico’s drug violence. A federal agent, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Chávez had been flagged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as an “egregious public safety threat” in December 2023. Despite this, he was permitted to reenter the U.S. without a visa on January 4, 2024—a decision that has raised further scrutiny.

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office confirmed Thursday that Chávez is the subject of an active arrest warrant, issued in March 2023 as part of an investigation into organized crime and illegal weapons trafficking. Following his arrest in the U.S., Mexico has now formally initiated extradition proceedings.

The arrest also intersects with Chávez’s long, troubled boxing career. The son of legendary boxer Julio César Chávez Sr.—an icon in Mexico and a Hall of Famer—Chávez Jr. has long struggled to live up to his family name. His career has been marred by failed drug tests, weight issues, suspensions, and sporadic dedication to the sport. Yet he has managed moments of success, including winning the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defending it three times. He’s fought top-tier opponents like Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, though he lost to both.

Legal trouble has followed Chávez outside the ring as well. In 2012, he was convicted of DUI in Los Angeles. More recently, in January 2024, he was arrested on gun charges for possessing two AR-style ghost rifles. He was released on $50,000 bail under the condition that he enter a drug rehab facility. That case remains pending, with Chávez regularly updating the court on his progress.

Prior to his fight against Jake Paul—a bout many saw as a last-ditch attempt to revive his career—Chávez gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times, expressing fears over immigration raids and deportation. “There are a lot of good people, and you’re giving the community an example of violence,” he said. “After everything that’s happened, I wouldn’t want to be deported.”

The circumstances surrounding the delay in Chávez’s arrest have raised questions. DHS officials had identified him for arrest on June 27, the day before his fight, but allowed the bout to proceed. It’s unclear why federal agents waited several days after the event to take action. In the meantime, immigration raids in Los Angeles have increased dramatically, prompting community protests and the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to the area.

Now facing deportation and likely extradition to Mexico, Chávez’s once-promising career stands at a grim crossroads. For a fighter who has lived in the shadow of his father’s legendary legacy, the fall from grace may be both personal and historic.

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