Latest news with #MichaelGoldstein
France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr facing deportation from US after ICE arrest
U.S. immigration authorities have arrested Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Los Angeles and plan to deport him, they said on Thursday, just days after he lost a high-profile bout to American rival Jake Paul. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Chavez was determined to be in the country illegally last week after he made fraudulent statements on a 2024 application for permanent residence. He is married to a U.S. citizen, it said. Michael Goldstein, a lawyer for Chavez, said more than two dozen immigration agents arrested the boxer at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation, federal officials say
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., right, punches Jake Paul during their cruiserweight boxing match on Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Famed Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. has been arrested for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organized crime charges, U.S. federal officials said Thursday. The arrest came only days after the former middleweight champion lost a match against influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Anaheim, California. The Department of Homeland Security said officials determined Chávez should be arrested on June 27, a day before the fight. It was unclear why they waited to act for days after the high-profile event. Advertisement The boxer was riding a scooter when agents detained him The 39-year-old boxer, according to his attorney Michael Goldstein, was picked up Wednesday by a large number of federal agents while he was riding a scooter in front of a home where he resides in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City near Hollywood. 'The current allegations are outrageous and simply another headline to terrorize the community,' Goldstein said. Many people across Southern California are on edge as immigration arrests have ramped up, prompting protests and the federal deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to downtown Los Angeles. Advertisement Goldstein did not know where Chávez was being detained as of Thursday morning, but said he and his client were due in court Monday in connection with prior gun possession charges. Chávez's family issued a statement Thursday afternoon in support of him, the Los Angeles Times reported. 'We have full confidence in his innocence,' the statement said. 'We firmly believe that the proper course is to allow the competent authorities to carry out their work without external pressure or speculation.' Before his recent bout, Chavez fought once since 2021 Before his bout with Paul on Saturday, Chávez had fought just once since 2021, having fallen to innumerable lows during a lengthy boxing career conducted in the shadow of his father, Julio César Chávez, one of the most beloved athletes in Mexican history and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame who won championships in several weight classes. Advertisement The son, who has battled drug addiction for much of his career, has been arrested repeatedly. In 2012, he was convicted of drunk driving in Los Angeles and sentenced to 13 days in jail and in January 2024 he was arrested on gun charges. Police said he possessed two AR-style ghost rifles. He was later freed on a $50,000 bond and on condition he went to a residential drug treatment facility. The case is still pending, with Chávez reporting his progress regularly. He split his time between both countries. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Chávez for overstaying a tourist visa that he entered the U.S. with in August 2023 and expired in February 2024, the Department of Homeland Security said. The agency also said Chávez submitted multiple fraudulent statements when he applied for permanent residency on April 2, 2024, based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, Frida Muñoz. She is the mother of a granddaughter of imprisoned Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. U.S. officials said he is believed to be an affiliate of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel that is blamed for a significant portion of Mexico's drug violence. Advertisement Federal officials called Chavez a public safety threat U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services flagged Immigration and Customs Enforcement about Chávez on Dec. 17, saying he 'is an egregious public safety threat,' and yet he was allowed back into the country without a visa on Jan. 4 under the Biden administration, the agency said. Mexico's Attorney General's Office said that an arrest warrant against 'Julio 'C was issued in Mexico in March 2023 in an investigation of organized crime and arms trafficking allegations and that Mexico on Thursday initiated extradition proceedings. A federal agent who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that 'Julio C' is Chávez. The agent declined to explain why Chávez was not arrested earlier in Mexico despite going back and forth between the two countries multiple times. Advertisement In Mexico, mixed feelings followed the arrest In Mexico, word of U.S. agents arresting a well-known athlete prompted mixed feelings. Martín Sandoval Peñaloza, a newspaper seller in Mexico City, said he believes President Donald Trump wanted to make him an example. 'I think that the U.S. government - in this case, Trump – is up to something," he said, adding that it was 'to attract media attention.' Oscar Tienda, a Mexico City storekeeper, said he wasn't surprised given the boxer's troubles. 'I think it was predictable because he has had a lifetime of drug use," he said. Despite widely being criticized for his intermittent dedication to the sport, Chávez still rose to its heights. He won the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defended it three times. Chávez shared the ring with generational greats Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing to both. Advertisement Chávez claimed to be clean for the Paul fight. He looked in his best shape in years while preparing for the match. Chávez said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times ahead of his fight with Paul that he and his trainers were shaken by the immigration arrests. 'There are a lot of good people, and you're giving the community an example of violence,' Chávez said. 'After everything that's happened, I wouldn't want to be deported.' —- Associated Press journalists Carlos Rodriguez, Fabiola Sanchez and Martín Silva in Mexico City contributed to this story. Watson reported from San Diego.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE for deportation, federal officials say
LOS ANGELES: Famed Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. has been arrested for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organized crime charges, US federal officials said Thursday. The arrest came only days after the former middleweight champion lost a match against influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Anaheim, California. The Department of Homeland Security said officials determined Chávez should be arrested on June 27, a day before the fight. It was unclear why they waited to act for days after the high-profile event. The boxer was riding a scooter when agents detained him The 39-year-old boxer, according to his attorney Michael Goldstein, was picked up Wednesday by a large number of federal agents while he was riding a scooter in front of a home where he resides in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City near Hollywood. 'The current allegations are outrageous and simply another headline to terrorize the community,' Goldstein said. Many people across Southern California are on edge as immigration arrests have ramped up, prompting protests and the federal deployment of National Guard troops and US Marines to downtown Los Angeles. Goldstein did not know where Chávez was being detained as of Thursday morning, but said he and his client were due in court Monday in connection with prior gun possession charges. Before his recent bout, Chavez fought once since 2021 Before his bout with Paul on Saturday, Chávez had fought just once since 2021, having fallen to innumerable lows during a lengthy boxing career conducted in the shadow of his father, Julio César Chávez, one of the most beloved athletes in Mexican history and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame who won championships in several weight classes. The son, who has battled drug addiction for much of his career, has been arrested repeatedly. In 2012, he was convicted of drunk driving in Los Angeles and sentenced to 13 days in jail and in January 2024 he was arrested on gun charges. Police said he possessed two AR-style ghost rifles. He was later freed on a $50,000 bond and on condition he went to a residential drug treatment facility. The case is still pending, with Chávez reporting his progress regularly. He split his time between both countries. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Chávez for overstaying a tourist visa that he entered the US with in August 2023 and expired in February 2024, the Department of Homeland Security said. The agency also said Chávez submitted multiple fraudulent statements when he applied for permanent residency on April 2, 2024, based on his marriage to a US citizen, Frida Muñoz. She is the mother of a granddaughter of imprisoned Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. US officials said he is believed to be an affiliate of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel that is blamed for a significant portion of Mexico's drug violence. Federal officials called Chavez a public safety threat US Citizenship and Immigration Services flagged Immigration and Customs Enforcement about Chávez on Dec. 17, saying he 'is an egregious public safety threat,' and yet he was allowed back into the country without a visa on Jan. 4 under the Biden administration, the agency said. Mexico's Attorney General's Office said that an arrest warrant against 'Julio 'C was issued in Mexico in March 2023 in an investigation of organized crime and arms trafficking allegations and that Mexico on Thursday initiated extradition proceedings. A federal agent who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that 'Julio C' is Chávez. The agent declined to explain why Chávez was not arrested earlier in Mexico despite going back and forth between the two countries multiple times. In Mexico, mixed feelings followed the arrest In Mexico, word of US agents arresting a well-known athlete prompted mixed feelings. Martín Sandoval Peñaloza, a newspaper seller in Mexico City, said he believes President Donald Trump wanted to make him an example. 'I think that the US government — in this case, Trump – is up to something,' he said, adding that it was 'to attract media attention.' Oscar Tienda, a Mexico City storekeeper, said he wasn't surprised given the boxer's troubles. 'I think it was predictable because he has had a lifetime of drug use,' he said. Despite widely being criticized for his intermittent dedication to the sport, Chávez still rose to its heights. He won the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defended it three times. Chávez shared the ring with generational greats Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing to both. Chávez claimed to be clean for the Paul fight. He looked in his best shape in years while preparing for the match. Chávez said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times ahead of his fight with Paul that he and his trainers were shaken by the immigration arrests. 'There are a lot of good people, and you're giving the community an example of violence,' Chávez said. 'After everything that's happened, I wouldn't want to be deported.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Mexican boxer detained by ICE over alleged cartel links
Mexican boxer and the son of the legendary fighter Julio Cesar Chavez, has been arrested by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents over his alleged links to the powerful Sinaloa cartel. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, was arrested on Wednesday by federal agents in Studio City, California, 10 miles north of Los Angeles. Over the weekend he fought, and lost, against the former YouTuber Jake Paul at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California. Officials said that while Mr Chavez Jr had overstayed a tourist visa, Mexican authorities had an active arrest warrant against him for what it claimed was involvement in organised crime and trafficking firearms and ammunition. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Mr Chavez Jr, a former world title holder, was 'believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa cartel'. Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary, said in a statement: 'Under President Trump, no one is above the law – including world-famous athletes.' She added: 'Our message to any cartel affiliates in the US is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over.' 'Outrageous allegations' The boxer's lawyer, Michael Goldstein, said the athlete had been picked up by a large number of federal agents while he was riding a scooter in front of his home. 'The current allegations are outrageous and simply another headline to terrorise the community,' said Mr Goldstein. The US president was returned to the White House for his second term, having promised to launch a nationwide effort to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Large numbers have been rounded and many deported. The actions have triggered controversy in many cities with large immigrant populations, where activists say most of the people being arrested are not hardened criminals but rather people with families, and who have worked for many years. The arrest of Mr Chavez Jr came days after he lost in a fight on Saturday night to influencer Jake Paul. He had entered the country in August 2023 with a tourist visa that was valid until February 2024, according to the DHS. He filed an application for lawful permanent resident status in April 2024 based on his marriage to a US citizen. The boxer's 62-year-old father had a career that stretched from 1980 to 2005. He was a world champion in three different weight divisions and remains a legendary figure in Mexico. Officials said Mr Chavez Jr was being processed for 'expedited removal'.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. arrested by ICE, to be deported to Mexico, officials say
Famed Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. has been arrested for entering the United States illegally and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organized crime charges, U.S. federal officials said Thursday. The arrest comes only days after the former middleweight champion lost a match against Jake Paul in Anaheim, Calif. Chávez, 39, was picked up by a large number of federal agents while he was riding a scooter in front of his home in Studio City, according to Chávez's attorney Michael Goldstein. "The current allegations are outrageous and simply another headline to terrorize the community," Goldstein said. Many people across Southern California are on edge as immigration arrests have ramped up, prompting protests and the federal deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to downtown Los Angeles. Goldstein did not know where Chávez was being detained as of Thursday morning, but said they were due in court Monday related to gun possession charges from last year and were to provide an update on his progress in a substance abuse program. The Department of Homeland Security said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Chávez for overstaying a tourist visa that expired in February 2024 after he entered the country in August 2023. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services flagged ICE about Chávez last year, saying he "is an egregious public safety threat," and yet he was allowed back into the country Jan. 4, the agency said. Officials said he has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition and explosives and is believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Associated Press contacted Mexico's Attorney General's Office about the charges but the office has not responded yet. WATCH | Trump on immigration enforcement: Trump to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities 17 days ago Duration 3:26 The Trump administration said Chávez applied for a green card on April, 2, 2024, based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, Frida Muñoz, the former partner of Édgar Guzmán López, the now-deceased son of imprisoned Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquin (El Chapo) Guzman. The agency said Chávez had submitted multiple fraudulent statements on his application, which led to his arrest. Chávez had fought just once since 2021 before his bout with Paul on Saturday, having fallen to innumerable lows during a lengthy boxing career conducted in the shadow of his father, one of the most beloved athletes in Mexican history, a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame who won championships in several weight classes. The son has failed drug tests, served suspensions and egregiously missed weight while being widely criticized for his intermittent dedication to the sport. He still rose to its heights, winning the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defending it three times. Chávez shared the ring with generational greats Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing to both. After battling drug addiction for long stretches of his career, Chávez went to a rehabilitation clinic in Sinaloa and claimed to be clean for the Paul fight. He looked in his best shape in years while preparing for the match. Chávez said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times ahead of his fight with Paul that he and his trainers were scared by the immigration arrests. "I don't understand the situation — why so much violence? There are a lot of good people, and you're giving the community an example of violence," Chávez said. "After everything that's happened, I wouldn't want to be deported."
