ICE arrests Julio Chavez Jr on open warrant for weapons trafficking, Sinaloa cartel affiliation just days after fight against Jake Paul

A prominent Mexican boxer who recently fought Jake Paul has been apprehended by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after it was revealed that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a criminal illegal alien, had an active arrest warrant in his home country for his alleged involvement in organized crime and trafficking weapons, according the a press release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Chavez, a 39-year-old repeat offender with an extensive criminal history, was taken into custody in Studio City, California, on Wednesday, July 2, and is being processed for expedited removal from the United States. Additionally, he is believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), according to federal authorities.

DHS said that Chavez legally entered the country with a B2 tourist visa in August 2023, which expired in February 2024. He filed an application for lawful permanent resident status on April 2, 2024, based on his marriage to a US citizen, who authorities said is connected to the Sinaloa Cartel through a previous relationship with the deceased son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the infamous cartel leader.

On December 17, 2024, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) informed ICE that Chavez was an egregious public safety threat. However, the Biden administration allowed Chavez to return to the country and paroled him into the US at the San Ysidro port of entry on January 4, 2025, after determining he wasn't an immigration enforcement priority, according to the press release.

On June 27, 2025, Chavez was determined to be in the country illegally and removable following multiple fraudulent statements on his lawful permanent resident application, federal authorities said.

"This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE. It is shocking the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat, but chose not to prioritize his removal and let him leave and come back into our country," said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "Under President Trump, no one is above the law - including world-famous athletes. Our message to any cartel affiliates in the US is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over."

Homeland Security also provided a list of charges and convictions that Chavez racked up while residing in the US, including a January 2022 DUI conviction in California, where he served jail time, and a January 2024 conviction for illegal possession of firearms. Additionally, a California district court judge issued an arrest warrant for Chavez on January 14, 2023, for the "offense of organized crime for the purpose of committing crimes of weapons trafficking and manufacturing crimes" by helping to bring in "weapons, ammunition, cartridges, and explosives into the country."

Chavez Jr., the son of longtime boxer Julio Chavez, fought YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on June 28 in Anaheim, California, just days before he was arrested by ICE. He's a world-famous boxer who has a career record of 54-7-1 with 34 knockouts, according to CNN.

Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.