Latest news with #JulioCésarChávezSr
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Mexico Confirms Arrest Warrant for Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr.
Mexican officials confirmed on Thursday that they had issued an arrest warrant for the prominent boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. on charges of involvement in organized crime and arms trafficking, a day after he was detained by U.S. immigration authorities in California. Mr. Chávez had been detained by federal U.S. agents in Studio City, Calif., the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday, citing the arrest warrant in Mexico and saying that Mr. Chávez was in the United States illegally. A spokesman for Mexico's Attorney General's Office said that the U.S. authorities had informed Mexican officials about the detention, and said 'they have started the corresponding procedure for his extradition to Mexico.' The warrant for him was issued in March 2023, the spokesman said. Lawyers for Mr. Chávez could not immediately be reached for comment. A former World Boxing Council middleweight champion, Mr. Chávez, 39, was detained just days after he lost a high-profile boxing match in Anaheim, Calif., against the former YouTuber Jake Paul. He is also the son of a Mexican boxing legend, Julio César Chávez Sr., who appeared with Mexico's president twice in recent months, at a news conference and a government event in Mexico City that drew tens of thousands of people. The Department of Homeland Security said in its statement that Mr. Chávez was 'also believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel,' referring to the powerful crime syndicate that the U.S. and Mexican authorities have targeted in an aggressive crackdown. The U.S. authorities said that Mr. Chávez had entered the United States legally in 2023 with a B2 tourist visa, but that it had expired in 2024. He then filed for lawful permanent resident status based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, who U.S. officials said was 'connected to the Sinaloa Cartel through a prior relationship' with a son of the cartel leader Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as El Chapo. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr arrested by Ice over alleged cartel ties
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) has arrested Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr in California and begun proceedings to deport him, citing cartel affiliations, multiple criminal convictions and an active arrest warrant in Mexico for weapons trafficking and organized crime. Chávez Jr, 38, the son of the legendary world champion Julio César Chávez Sr, was taken into custody by Ice agents on Tuesday in Studio City, a Los Angeles neighborhood known for celebrity residences. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he had been living in the US unlawfully and posed a significant threat to public safety. Chávez Jr first entered the US legally on a six-month tourist visa in August 2023. He later filed for permanent residency in April 2024, citing marriage to a US citizen. That application raised alarms within federal agencies due to what officials described as 'multiple fraudulent statements' and connections to the Sinaloa cartel, a powerful drug trafficking organization labeled a foreign terrorist group by the Trump administration. His arrest comes amid mounting political tension over the Biden administration's immigration enforcement policies. Internal DHS documents reportedly showed that although Chávez was flagged as an 'egregious public safety threat' in December 2024, his removal was not prioritized. In January 2025, despite those warnings, Chávez was allowed reentry into the country at the San Ysidro port of entry in California under a discretionary parole process. 'This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by Ice,' said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a sharply worded 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.' Federal officials allege Chávez Jr has longstanding ties to organized crime. In Mexico, he is wanted on charges of weapons trafficking and manufacturing explosives without authorization. In the United States, he has a criminal record dating back more than a decade. He was convicted of DUI in California in 2012, and more recently, in January 2024, he was convicted of illegal possession of an assault weapon and manufacturing or importing a short-barreled rifle. The boxer has struggled with substance abuse and legal trouble throughout his career. Once seen as a rising star in Mexican boxing, who held the World Boxing Council's version of the middleweight title from 2011 through 2012, his in-ring performances in recent years have been overshadowed by repeated arrests, erratic behavior and suspensions. Chávez's wife – through whom he filed for a green card – has also drawn scrutiny. DHS officials say she was previously in a relationship with one of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán's sons, though she has not been charged with any crime. Chávez is currently in Ice custody and will be processed for expedited removal. A spokesperson for his legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The arrest highlights ongoing friction between immigration enforcement priorities and public safety concerns, as both major parties prepare for a general election in which border policy is expected to feature prominently.
