Well-known Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was arrested for illegally coming into the US and deported to Mexico the place he faces suspected of organized crime, U.S. federal officers mentioned Thursday.
The arrest comes days after the previous middleweight champion misplaced a match in opposition to Jake Paul in Anaheim, California.
Chavez, 39, was greeted by quite a few federal brokers whereas driving a scooter in entrance of his studio metropolis residence. In response to Chavez’s lawyer Michael Goldstein, Chavez’s.
“The present allegations are outrageous and one other headline that terrifies the neighborhood,” Goldstein mentioned.
Many individuals in Southern California have seen a rise in immigrant arrests, prompting protests and federal authorities to downtown Los Angeles.
Goldstein did not know the place Chavez was in custody on Thursday morning, however mentioned it was scheduled for court docket on Monday in reference to gun possession expenses since final yr, and would supply an replace on the progress of the substance abuse program.
The Division of Homeland Safety mentioned that after coming into the nation in August 2023, immigration and customs enforcement officers detained Chavez after overstaying vacationer visas that expired in February 2024.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Providers flagged Chavez on ice final yr, calling it a “extreme public security risk,” however on January 4 he mentioned he returned to the nation.
Authorities say they’ve energetic arrest warrants in Mexico for his or her involvement in firearms, ammunition and explosives in organized crime and human trafficking, and are believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Related Press contacted the Mexican Lawyer Normal’s Workplace in regards to the expenses, however the workplace has not but responded.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday directed federal immigrants to prioritize deportation of undocumented migrants in democratically operated cities. This sparks a serious weekend protest in opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration coverage in main cities throughout the nation.
The Trump administration has mentioned that Chavez utilized for a inexperienced card on April 2, 2024, and is the previous companion of Edgar Guizman Lopez, the late son of Sinaloa Cartel Kingpin Joaquin (El Chap) Guzman, who was now incarcerated, based mostly on his marriage to US citizen Frida Munoz.
The company mentioned Chavez filed a number of fraudulent statements in his software, which led to his arrest.
Chavez had been combating solely as soon as since 2021 earlier than his match in opposition to Paul on Saturday. In his lengthy boxing profession in his father’s shadow, he is without doubt one of the most beloved athletes in Mexican historical past and one of many members of the Worldwide Boxing Corridor, profitable championships in a number of weight lessons.
His son had failed drug assessments, supplied a halt, missed weight, and was extensively criticized for his intermittent dedication to sports activities.
He nonetheless rose to that peak, profitable the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defending thrice. Chavez shared the ring with generational greats Canelo Alvarez and Sergio Martinez, dropping to each.
After combating drug dependancy as a result of lengthy stretches of his profession, Chavez went to a rehabilitation clinic in Sinaloa and claimed to be clear for Paul’s combat. He noticed his finest form for years whereas getting ready for the match.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Occasions forward of his combat with Paul, Chavez mentioned he and his coach have been fearful of the immigrant arrest.
“I do not perceive the scenario. Why is there a lot violence? There are such a lot of good folks. You are giving the neighborhood an instance of violence,” Chavez mentioned. “After every little thing occurs, I do not need to be deported.”
