Joe Exotic's Husband Speaks Out After Sudden Deportation to Mexico
May 26, 2025 — The wild drama surrounding Tiger King star
took another twist with his husband, Jorge Flores Maldonado, speaking out in Mexico after a rapid and surprise deportation.
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Jorge, who was deported from the U.S. on May 19, is now revealing the dangerous reality in which he lives in Tamaulipas — a state famous for rampant organized crime.
There is a high incidence of organized crime here and there is no security," Jorge said in an interview with The New York Post. "I am a very well-known individual and at the present time I risk being kidnapped.
Jorge highlighted the risks he now encounters as a public figure linked to Joe Exotic, whose actual name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage.
"The cartels are very active here — I cannot even go out on the street. They think I have money because of my husband.
Jorge was reportedly initially arrested on May 16 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was soon given a hearing to ascertain whether he should be allowed to stay in the U.S. or not. The ruling was made hastily, though, and hours later, he was sent back to Mexico, confirmed TMZ.
Joe Exotic, who is serving 21 years in prison for crimes that include a murder-for-hire scheme and animal cruelty, spoke out on Instagram about his pain.
In an Instagram post on May 19, he confirmed Jorge's deportation and said the two remained in communication despite everything. The Tiger King star also made a plea to former President Donald Trump in a third post.
President Trump, I want to get out of here so I can be with my husband," Joe wrote, referring to Trump's wide-ranging immigration decrees since taking office again in January. The divisive policies have ramped up deportations nationwide, affecting thousands of families — Jorge and Joe among them.
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This new development brings another chapter to the constantly changing Tiger King saga, one that has fascinated viewers since the Netflix docuseries premiered in 2020. As Joe Exotic sits in prison, his struggle — both inner and courtroom-related — continues to make news and fuel controversy. And now his husband's dire circumstances in Mexico only heighten demands for action and intervention.
For the time being, Jorge Flores Maldonado is still in Tamaulipas under what he would call perpetual threat, and Joe Exotic is still behind bars — both men divided by borders, red tape, and an ever-more dangerous political environment.
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