Joe Exotic’s Tearful Goodbye: Prison Husband Deported to Mexico Amid Health Battle

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Joe Exotic is speaking out about the heartbreaking enforced parting from his husband, following his relocation to Mexico.

On Thursday, Joe (formerly known as Joseph Allen Maldonado), expressed his strong emotions following the deportation of his partner, Jorge Marquez Flores.

Jorge was quickly apprehended by ICE officials not long after being discharged from a prison, where his spouse is presently incarcerated on a 21-year attempt-murder sentence following an alleged plot to hire a hitman to eliminate his adversary Carole Baskin.

His big mistake was offering $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin. 

Joe gained prominence due to the 2020 Netflix documentary titled “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” which delved into his life and work as a caretaker for exotic big cats at his Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma.

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On Friday morning, as they prepared for Jorge’s departure, Joe, who is 62 years old, expressed that he and Jorge were “crying profusely” before they parted ways.

He acknowledged that they both anticipated issues with immigration authorities concerning Jorge, yet Joe voiced frustration over the fact that they had invested a significant amount of money on some top-notch immigration attorneys in the U.S., expecting these professionals to help alleviate the deportation proceedings for his husband.

As reported, Jorge was expected to face a hearing concerning his application for U.S. asylum. However, ICE officials took him into custody shortly after he was freed from the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth, where both Jorge and Joe had previously been detained.

Generally speaking, individuals applying for asylum are usually allowed to stay in the U.S. during the processing of their application. However, it remains uncertain at which stage Jorge’s application stood, and his criminal background could potentially simplify the process for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expel him from the country.

As reported by Joe, Jorge was whisked away to Mexico at such speed that his legal representatives didn’t get a moment to meet with him prior to his departure from the country.

In 2024, Jorge was jailed due to entering the United States illegally from Mexico, as he had been deported before, as reported by The Sun.

In October, following the announcement of their engagement, Joe stated that he was working towards securing asylum or planning to depart from America once they were both free to do so.

He firmly reiterated the statement when responding to a comment about his upcoming appeal on social media, expressing hope for good fortune.

Exotic wrote that he has ‘no problem going to Mexico’ with his husband when released.

Additionally, Jorge communicated with TMZ over the phone from a friend’s residence in Mexico and expressed that he hasn’t been able to talk with his spouse since the deportation.

Instead, he explained that he’d penned several letters intended for the Tiger King, hoping to receive them back shortly.

Additionally, it’s said that Jorge often shared insights about his bond with Joe, as they were frequently seen together at the library and gym within the prison.

As a dedicated follower, I found that despite speaking different native languages, the act of conversing in English and Spanish became a unique way for us to connect and strengthen our bond.

Joe also shared some dispiriting updates on his health and the cancer he has been afflicted with. 

Initially under control, the cancer started to regrow and now affects his left lung as well.

He took a remarkably relaxed approach towards his health issue, informing the media that he was no longer interested in additional treatments following a grueling year of chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects that left him feeling overburdened.

‘I just can’t do it again,’ he admitted. 

Instead, he’d prefer to spend time with his parents, his two late husbands, and his brother in the afterlife, as opposed to being trapped once more in a cold, sterile room where I might vomit again.

Joe mentioned that he’s currently feeling good, and he’s making efforts to maintain his fitness and eat healthily. However, he’s concerned that the treatments might only worsen his condition.

‘If I die tomorrow, I’ve had the happiest 10 months of my life,’ he declared. 

Joe shocked fans last month when he announced he’d married a fellow prisoner. 

During a conversation on Sydney’s 2DayFM with Jimmy & Nath Show, Joe candidly disclosed if the newlyweds had experienced their first moments as a married couple.

Posting an edited picture showing the couple dressed smartly for their special event, he humorously commented: “I’ve never felt prouder than I am now. Allow me to introduce you to my spouse, Jorge Flores Maldonado.

Back in October, Joe announced his engagement by introducing Jorge Marquez to his followers, saying, “This is Jorge Marquez, an extraordinary individual hailing from Mexico.

He stated: “Either we’ll seek marriage in prison and try for asylum, or we’ll depart from America upon our release, both of us.

‘Either way, I wish I would have met him long ago.’

Joe, more commonly recognized as Joseph Maldonado-Passage, filed an application for marriage at the federal penitentiary with the intention of marrying Jorge.

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2025-05-23 04:10