Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times,
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on July 4 that she anticipates boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. will be deported to Mexico to fulfill a prison sentence following his apprehension in Los Angeles by U.S. immigration authorities.
“The hope is that he will be deported and serve the sentence in Mexico,” Sheinbaum stated during a press conference on Friday, addressing the charges the boxer is facing in Mexico related to arms and drug trafficking. She explained that Mexico had not previously arrested Chávez due to his primarily residing in the United States.
Chávez, aged 39, was taken into custody on July 2 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Studio City, Los Angeles, shortly after losing a boxing match to social media influencer Jake Paul in Anaheim, California. His lawyer, Michael Goldstein, disclosed that federal agents detained the boxer while he was riding a scooter outside his residence in the upscale neighborhood near Hollywood.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that Chávez had overstayed a tourist visa he obtained upon entering the United States in August 2023. The agency also accused Chavez of providing false information on an application for lawful permanent residency, based on his marriage to U.S. citizen Frida Munoz, who has ties to the Sinaloa cartel through a previous relationship with the son of cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Chavez is wanted for arrest since 2023 on charges of involvement with the Sinaloa cartel and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives. U.S. immigration officials allege he has connections to organized crime and labeled him as a significant public safety risk. However, during the Biden administration, an entry in a DHS law enforcement system indicated he was not a priority for immigration enforcement.
“It is astonishing that the previous administration identified this criminal illegal alien as a public safety hazard but chose not to prioritize his deportation, allowing him to depart and RETURN to our country,” stated DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Under President Trump, everyone is subject to the law—including internationally renowned athletes. Our message to any cartel associates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you, and you will face consequences. The era of unchecked cartel violence is over.”
Chavez’s attorney has denied the allegations, deeming them “outrageous” and suggesting they are merely “another sensational headline to frighten the community.”
Chavez, the offspring of legendary boxing champion Julio César Chávez Sr., has encountered multiple legal issues in the United States, including a DUI conviction in 2012, driving without a license, and charges of illegal possession of firearms in 2024.
His boxing career has also been marred by failed drug tests, suspensions, and failure to meet weight requirements for scheduled bouts.
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