Miguel Ángel Espinoza Says Family Unity Helped Him Through Brother's Deportation as He Competes on 'Guerreros: Garra vs. Veneno'

MEXICO CITY—For Miguel Ángel Espinoza, the brother of Mexican star Alejandra Espinoza, competing on Unimás and Univision 'Guerreros Mundiales: Garra vs. Veneno' is about much more than winning challenges. The athlete and reality TV star says the strength that drives him through the competition comes from his close-knit family, which recently faced one of its toughest moments when his older brother was deported from the United States.

Speaking during an interview with this reporter on the set of the popular competition series, Espinoza opened up about the emotional experience after one of his siblings was removed from the country.

"My older brother, José, was deported," Espinoza said. "It's obviously a sad situation, but thank God he's in Tijuana. We're from San Diego, so we have the opportunity to see him often."

While deportation has separated many families across the United States, Espinoza said his relatives have worked hard to maintain their bond despite the circumstances. His mother, siblings, nieces, and nephews continue to visit José regularly, helping preserve the close family dynamic that has long been central to the Espinoza household.

"What keeps our family together is that we are extremely united," he explained. "Whether someone is here, in Mexico, or even in China, the love of family is always there. As long as that family bond remains strong, it doesn't matter where we are."

The comments carry additional weight given the public profile of the Espinoza family. Miguel's sister, television personality and social media star Alejandra Espinoza, was the one to reveal the situation to Las Top News. She had previously spoken about the importance of family and the challenges immigrant families often face. Alejandra, who won Nuestra Belleza Latina in 2007 and became one of Univision's most recognizable faces, has frequently highlighted her family's journey from Mexico to Southern California.

Miguel said that despite the hardship, there is comfort in knowing his brother remains surrounded by loved ones.

"His wife visits him almost every day. His children are always with him," he said. "It's sad, but you have to smile at life and make the best of the situation."

That optimistic outlook appears to fuel his performance on Guerreros: Garra vs. Veneno, where he is representing Team Veneno. Espinoza described approaching the competition with the excitement of a child returning to an amusement park.

"Every time I get the chance to do these kinds of competitions, I feel like a kid again," he said. "I'm very excited, very prepared, and ready to give Veneno the victory."

Asked about his greatest athletic strengths, Espinoza struggled to identify just one.

"I'm fast, I have endurance, I'm strong, and I have good aim," he said. "I think I'm a very complete competitor."

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One rival he is particularly eager to face is fellow contestant Jahn Lozada, whom he considers one of the strongest athletes in the competition.

"He motivates me a lot," Espinoza said. "He's a very complete competitor and has won similar reality competitions before. I know we're going to have some great battles."

The two reality TV stars have known each other for a long time. They not only call Miami home, but Chef Yisus and Jahn's father, former Menudo Group member Johnny Lozada, were part of Univision morning show 'Despierta América.'

Although reality television has expanded his public profile, Espinoza said he never entered the entertainment world with dreams of becoming an actor or television host. However, he admitted he would welcome opportunities connected to another lifelong passion: soccer.

"I love soccer," he said. "I'd love to be the person interviewing fans before matches, doing man-on-the-street segments. I would need training because modeling is very different from working with a microphone, but if the opportunity comes and God wants it, I'm open to it."

His enthusiasm for the sport was on full display when the conversation turned to the FIFA World Cup. While he joked that he would love to predict a Mexican championship, he ultimately selected France as his realistic favorite to win and singled out Mexican rising star Gilberto Mora as a player he admires.

For now, however, Espinoza's focus remains firmly on Guerreros: Garra vs. Veneno, where every challenge offers another opportunity to channel the support of the family that continues to stand behind him through both triumph and adversity. As he put it, whenever competition begins, he knows exactly who he is representing.

"I always think about my family," he said. "I know they're all watching and supporting me, and I try to channel that energy and give my best."