21 Savage may have “a lot” of explaining to do.
The rapper, whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement early Sunday morning (Feb. 3) in Atlanta, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ICE claims that he is actually from the United Kingdom and overstayed his visa.
He was taken into custody in a “targeted operation” and faces deportation from the U.S. Savage has long claimed to be from Atlanta and was born there in 1992, according to Wikipedia.
More from ICE spokesman: “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.” https://t.co/QrIwHI6Uq1
— Mark Winne (@MarkWinneWSB) February 3, 2019
ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said that Savage is actually an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national” who came to the U.S. on a visa in July 2005. His visa expired a year later.
The rapper, whose most recent album i am > i was debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in December, is being held for removal proceedings due to the fact that he is in the U.S. illegally and for being a felon. He was convicted of drug charges in 2014.
“ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions,” said Cox.
In a statement to TMZ, his attorney, Dina LaPolt, said, “We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with authorities to clear up any misunderstanding. Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a role model to the young people in the country—especially in Atlanta, Georgia and is actively working in the community leading programs to help underprivileged youths in financial literacy.”
