On Thursday, July 3, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio César Chavez Jr. Federal authorities have detained Chavez Jr. for his alleged “involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives” and is being processed for an expedited removal from the United States.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has offered her support for authorities in the U.S. During a news briefing on Friday, July 4, 2025, Sheinbaum said, “The hope is that he will be deported and serve the sentence in Mexico.” However, Chavez Jr.’s family and his attorney, Michael Goldstein, have raised issues with the arrest and the accusation levied against the former world champion.
“The current allegations are outrageous and simply another headline to terrorize the community,” Goldstein told ESPN.
“We have full confidence in his innocence. We firmly believe that the proper course is to allow the competent authorities to carry out their work without external pressure or speculation,” a statement from Chavez Jr.’s family reads.
According to a statement from DHS, Chavez Jr. entered the U.S. legally with a B2 tourist visa in August 2023. Within a year of entering the country legally, Chavez Jr. filed an application for Lawful Permanent Resident status because of his marriage to a U.S. citizen, Frida Chávez. On December 17, 2024, DHS says U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services referred to Chavez Jr. as an “egregious public safety threat.” On January 4, 2025, Chavez Jr. re-entered the country and was “paroled” into the country at the San Ysidro port of entry. Six months later, he fought Jake Paul in the main event of a pay-per-view broadcast on DAZN at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Days after losing the fight by unanimous decision, ICE arrested Chavez Jr.
As news of the arrest circulated throughout news outlets and social media, Jake Paul tweeted an emoji of the American flag. In response, users shared disapproving comments and generated photos of Paul in a vest with the acronym, “ICE,” written across the front.
“This guy voted for white supremacy,” one person replied, referencing Paul’s support of Donald Trump.
“Everyone should boycott and unfollow everything this clown does,” another person replied.
Paul is expected to appear in New York as his promotional banner, Most Valuable Promotions, sets the stage for Netflix’s broadcast of Amanda Serrano-Katie Taylor III on Friday, July 11.
