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By Peter Aitken and Jenna Sundel
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday that boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a Mexican boxer, has been marked for expedited removal from the United States, as the department accuses him of having ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
DHS said that Chavez Jr. had entered the country with a valid B2 tourist visa in 2023 that expired in February 2024. He then applied for a Lawful Permanent Resident status based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen. Feds say the citizen is connected to the Sinaloa Cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
"The current allegations are outrageous and appear to be designed as a headline to terrorize the community," Michael Goldstein, lawyer for Chavez Jr., told Reuters.
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Why It Matters
The administration of President Donald Trump designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February. Immigration enforcement has been a key focus of Trump's agenda.
"Under President Trump, NO ONE is above the law—including world-famous athletes," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "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."
What To Know
Chavez Jr. was arrested on Wednesday in Studio City, California, the DHS said.
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The Biden administration had determined Chavez Jr. was not an enforcement priority despite U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services referring him to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as an "egregious public safety threat."
Chavez Jr. was allowed to reenter the country on January 4, the DHS said. The department, however, has determined that Chavez Jr. made "multiple fraudulent statements on his application," which led the DHS to conclude that he had remained in the country illegally and, therefore, could be removed.
Chavez Jr. has fought 63 matches, with 54 wins, seven losses, one draw and one "no contest" across several weight classes. He fought influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul on June 29, losing the fight in California.
What People Are Saying
McLaughlin, in a statement: "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."
Trump, in a January 20 executive order: "The Cartels have engaged in a campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere that has not only destabilized countries with significant importance for our national interests but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs."
What Happens Next
DHS said Chavez Jr. is being processed for expedited removal from the U.S. The agency said there is an active arrest warrant in Mexico that accuses him of involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunitions and explosives.
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