Joe Exotic Announces Husband Was Deported To Mexico
Another strange twist has emerged in the ever-evolving saga of Joe Exotic—this time involving the swift deportation of his husband, Jorge Marquez Flores, just hours after his release from a Texas prison.
The development, confirmed by ICE and first reported by TMZ, highlights a failed bid by the couple to secure legal residency in the United States, despite earlier claims of an ongoing asylum process.
Joe Exotic—born Joseph Maldonado-Passage, the infamous former zookeeper and central figure of Netflix’s Tiger King—married Flores behind bars in April 2025, following a public engagement the previous October. Exotic frequently shared updates on social media, expressing admiration for Flores and describing their romance as a rare bright spot amid his long incarceration.
Never been more proud of someone.
Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado pic.twitter.com/0Ee6lfxBSR— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) April 22, 2025
Flores, 33, had been imprisoned for immigration-related offenses, though details surrounding the exact charges remain limited.
After completing his sentence, he was immediately transferred to an ICE detention center, where authorities conducted an expedited immigration hearing. By the end of the day, he was deported to Mexico.
The abrupt nature of the deportation suggests a clear-cut legal decision—one that bypassed any appeals or delays often associated with asylum claims. While Exotic had previously stated they were pursuing asylum, federal immigration officials evidently found no grounds for Flores to remain.
Joe Exotic, currently serving a 21-year sentence for a murder-for-hire plot targeting animal rights activist Carole Baskin, as well as wildlife trafficking violations, had hinted that he and Flores might eventually leave the United States together once both were free. That dream now seems uncertain at best, with Flores already out of the country and Exotic’s release nowhere in sight.
No additional statements have been released by Exotic or his representatives since the deportation, but the absence of public reaction may signal that this wasn’t entirely unexpected. Despite a high-profile persona built on theatrics and defiance, Exotic had expressed serious concern over Flores’ status in recent weeks, warning followers that their case hung in the balance.