Joe Exotic, the flamboyant star of Netflix’s Tiger King, is once again in the headlines—this time over the deportation of his husband, Jorge Marquez Flores.
The couple, who met while incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, tied the knot behind bars in April 2025, just weeks before Flores was transferred to an ICE detention center and deported to Mexico.
Flores, 33, had been serving time for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior deportation and for allegedly transporting undocumented immigrants across the border.
According to reports, he was taken into ICE custody on May 15 and deported within hours of his hearing, despite Exotic’s public pleas for mercy directed at former President Donald Trump and White House adviser Stephen Miller.
Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, posted a photo of himself and Flores on Instagram, writing, “They have officially taken him to an ICE detention Center for his hearing to either stay in America or go back to Mexico. @potus @stephenm don’t you think between losing my life’s work, my parents and now this that I’ve suffered enough?”
The marriage was Exotic’s sixth and came after a whirlwind engagement announced in October 2024.
The couple even tattooed wedding bands on their fingers to symbolize their commitment.
Exotic had expressed hope that the union would help Flores gain U.S. citizenship or at least allow them to build a life together upon release.
However, with Flores now deported, Exotic has stated he’s willing to move to Mexico to be with his husband once he’s released from prison.
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Exotic is currently serving a 21-year sentence for a murder-for-hire plot against animal rights activist Carole Baskin and multiple wildlife violations.
He gained international fame in 2020 when Tiger King became a viral sensation during the COVID-19 lockdowns, turning his feud with Baskin and his eccentric lifestyle into pop culture phenomena.
Despite his incarceration, Exotic has remained active on social media, sharing updates about his legal battles, health issues, and personal life.
His latest posts about Flores’s deportation have sparked renewed interest in his story and the ongoing saga of the “Tiger King.”
While ICE has not commented on the deportation, Exotic’s public appeals and the couple’s unconventional love story continue to capture public attention.
As Exotic continues to serve his sentence, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to reunite with Flores in Mexico or if further legal challenges await.
One thing is certain: the drama surrounding Joe Exotic shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
Related: Joe Exotic’s New Love: Tiger Tyrant Engaged to Fellow Inmate!