21 Savage Arrested by ICE and Could Be Deported
21 Savage Arrested by ICE and Could Be Deported
UPDATED: Both ICE and 21 Savage's attorney sent statements to E! News
about the rapper's recent arrest. Dina LaPolt, his lawyer, wrote, "We are
working diligently to get Mr.
Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with the authorities to
clear up any misunderstandings. Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a role model to the young
people in this country, especially in Atlanta, Georgia, and is actively working
in the community-leading programs to help underprivileged youths in financial
literacy."
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) said they "arrested
unlawfully present United Kingdom national Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph AKA '21
Savage' during a targeted operation with federal and local law enforcement
partners early Sunday in metro Atlanta. Mr. Abraham-Joseph was taken into ICE
custody as he is unlawfully present in the U.S. and also a convicted
felon."
ICE'S note continued, "Mr. Abraham-Joseph initially entered the
U.S. legally in July 2005, but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of
his nonimmigrant visa and he became unlawfully present in the U.S. when his
visa expired in July 2006. In addition to being in violation of federal
immigration law, Mr. Abraham-Joseph was convicted on felony drug charges in
October 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia."
It concluded, "Mr. Abraham-Joseph is presently in ICE custody in
Georgia and has been placed into removal proceedings before the federal
immigration courts. ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal
immigration judge to determine future actions."
21 Savage was arrested on Sunday by U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and faces the possibility of being deported.
Officials from the department say the 26-year-old, Atlanta-based,
Grammy-nominated rapper, whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, is from
the United Kingdom and overstayed his visa, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
reported. Past reports had said 21 Savage was born on the Caribbean island of
Dominica, a former British colony.
ICE spokesman Brian Cox told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that
the rapper is an "unlawfully present United Kingdom national" who
legally entered the U.S. in July 2005 on a visa. He said the visa expired the
following year. 21 Savage has been placed in "removal proceedings before
the federal immigration courts," Cox said.
"His whole public persona is false," an ICE spokesperson
told CNN. "He actually came to the U.S. from the U.K. as a teen and
overstayed his visa."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also reported that the rapper has a
criminal record; he was convicted of felony drug charges in 2014 in Georgia.
21 Savage is known for tracks such as "Bank Account" and
"A Lot" featuring J. Cole. He made headlines in 2017 when it was
revealed he was dating Amber Rose. They split the following year.
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