ICE arrests Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. in Los Angeles
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ICE Arrests Mexican Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. in Los Angeles
Above: Julio César Chávez Jr. (L) and Jake Paul (R) exchange punches during their cruiserweight fight in Anaheim, California, on June 28, 2025. Image copyright: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
It beggars belief that under the previous Biden administration, Chávez Jr. was allowed to stay in the U.S. though he was considered an egregious public safety threat. He has affiliations to the Sinaloa cartel, designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by President Trump, who has vowed not to allow the cartel to operate on U.S. territory.
Democratic narrative
While the arrest of Julio César Chávez Jr. on alleged cartel ties is undoubtedly serious, it should not be exploited to justify Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown, which has disproportionately targeted non-violent, law-abiding immigrants. One high-profile case does not legitimize a policy of mass deportation.
Narrative B
While Chávez Jr. has had some run-ins with the law, both in the U.S. and Mexico, the 39-year-old fighter from Sinaloa is among the world's finest. While his career was overshadowed by his father's success, it mustn't be forgotten that he was formerly the middleweight champion and is still a formidable professional boxer in his own regard.