Overview

• Chávez Jr. was taken into ICE custody on July 2 in Studio City, Los Angeles, and is being processed for expedited removal to Mexico.
• U.S. officials say he holds an active Mexican arrest warrant accusing him of organized crime involvement and trafficking firearms, ammunition and explosives for the Sinaloa Cartel.
• He entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa in August 2023 and applied for permanent residency in April 2024; USCIS labeled him an egregious public safety threat in December 2024 before he reentered in January.
• His arrest came four days after his unanimous-decision loss to influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul at the Honda Center in Anaheim, illustrating the collision of celebrity sports and federal immigration enforcement.
• DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin cited the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy on cartel affiliates as the basis for prioritizing his expedited removal.