Mexican Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. Arrested for Visa Fraud

Julio César Chávez Jr., a renowned Mexican boxer, was arrested by U.S. federal officials for overstaying his visa and submitting fraudulent statements on a green card application. The arrest occurred just days after his loss to Jake Paul in a high-profile boxing match in Anaheim, California. The Department of Homeland Security had determined that Chávez should be arrested on June 27, the day before the fight, but the reasons for the delay in his arrest remain unclear.

Chávez was detained by a large number of federal agents while riding a scooter in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City near Hollywood. His attorney, Michael Goldstein, described the allegations as "outrageous" and aimed at terrorizing the community. Goldstein also mentioned that Chávez was due in court on Monday in connection with prior gun possession charges, but he did not know where Chávez was being detained as of Thursday morning.

Chávez’s family issued a statement expressing their full confidence in his innocence and calling for the authorities to carry out their work without external pressure or speculation. Before his recent bout with Paul, Chávez had only fought once since 2021, a career marked by numerous lows and the shadow of his father, Julio César Chávez, a legendary figure in Mexican boxing history.

Chávez has a history of legal troubles, including a 2012 conviction for drunk driving and a 2024 arrest on gun charges. He was later freed on a $50,000 bond and was required to attend a residential drug treatment facility. The case is still pending, with Chávez reporting his progress regularly. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Chávez for overstaying a tourist visa that expired in February 2024 and for submitting multiple fraudulent statements when he applied for permanent residency based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, Frida Muñoz.

U.S. officials believe Chávez to be an affiliate of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, which is blamed for a significant portion of Mexico’s drug violence. Federal officials called Chávez a public safety threat, despite allowing him back into the country without a visa on Jan. 4 under the Biden administration. Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office issued an arrest warrant against Chávez in March 2023 in an investigation of organized crime and arms trafficking allegations and initiated extradition proceedings on Thursday.

In Mexico, the arrest of Chávez prompted mixed feelings. Some believed it was a political move by the U.S. government to attract media attention, while others saw it as predictable given his history of drug use and legal troubles. Despite his intermittent dedication to the sport, Chávez still achieved significant heights in boxing, winning the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defending it three times. He shared the ring with generational greats such as Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing to both.

Chávez claimed to be clean for the Paul fight and looked in his best shape in years while preparing for the match. However, he and his trainers were shaken by the immigration arrests, expressing concern about the impact on the community and his own potential deportation. The situation highlights the complex interplay between legal issues, public perception, and the personal struggles of high-profile athletes.