Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the famous former boxer, is facing deportation after he was arrested by authorities for entering the U.S. illegally. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced his arrest on Thursday, just days after he fought influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in California.
Chavez’s Arrest and Legal Trouble
Chavez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested while riding a scooter in front of his Studio City home on Wednesday, according to his attorney, Michael Goldstein. Chavez was scheduled to appear in court on Monday for charges related to gun possession and to give an update on his progress in a substance abuse program.
Goldstein denied the new allegations, calling them “outrageous” and claiming they were intended to cause panic in the community.
Illegal Entry and Fraudulent Claims
The DHS revealed that Chavez entered the U.S. illegally in August 2023 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2024. Chavez later applied for Legal Resident Status in April 2024, citing his marriage to a U.S. citizen.
However, the DHS claims that Chavez’s marriage was linked to a cartel through the bride’s previous ties to Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son.
The DHS said Chavez was allowed to reenter the U.S. in January 2025, but they have since labeled him “removable”. They claim he submitted fraudulent statements in his application for Legal Resident Status.
Chavez’s Past and Boxing Career
Chavez Jr. is the son of the beloved Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez. Before his fight with Jake Paul, which he lost, Chavez Jr. had only fought once since 2021. He had a successful career, winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title in 2011 and successfully defending it three times.
However, Chavez Jr. has struggled with drug addiction in the past, though he reportedly attended a rehabilitation center in Sinaloa. Ahead of his fight with Paul, he claimed he was clean.