On Sunday, February 3, 21 Savage was arrested in Atlanta and taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In an announcement, an ICE spokesperson claimed that 21 (actual identify She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) is a “United Kingdom national” who “is unlawfully present in the U.S.”
Now, 21 has said through representatives that he was born within the United Kingdom, as the Blast experiences and Pitchfork can affirm. A report revealed by Reuters factors to a delivery certificates sourced from a London registry workplace which states he was born in Newham, a borough of London.
The rapper clarified through reps that he immigrated to the United States when he was 7 years previous below an H-Four visa, departed in 2005 to go to the United Kingdom, and returned later that month. 21 claims he misplaced his authorized standing in 2006 “through no fault of his own” and utilized for a visa in 2017 as soon as he found that he required one. The assertion continues:
Mr. Abraham-Joseph has three U.S. Citizen youngsters, a lawful everlasting resident mom and 4 siblings which might be both US Citizens or lawful everlasting residents. He has exceptionally robust ties within the United States, having lived right here since he was within the first grade. Because of his size of residence within the United States and his fast kinfolk, Mr. Abraham-Joseph is eligible to hunt Cancellation of Removal from an Immigration Judge.
Mr. Abraham-Joseph was positioned into deportation proceedings AFTER his arrest, he was not in deportation proceedings previous to this detention by ICE. DHS has recognized his handle because the submitting of a U visa software in 2017. He has by no means hidden from DHS or any of its companies. Mr. Abraham-Joseph isn’t topic to obligatory detention below federal legislation and is eligible for bond. By statute, bond must be granted by ICE when there isn’t a flight threat or a hazard to the neighborhood… We are unaware of why ICE apparently focused Mr. Abraham-Joseph, however we are going to do every thing doable to legally search his launch and pursue his out there aid in immigration courtroom.
At the time of the arrest, ICE claimed in an announcement that 21 Savage “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, [21 Savage] was convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia.”
The new assertion from 21’s representatives reads: “Mr. Abraham-Joseph has no criminal convictions or charges under state or federal law and is free to seek relief from removal in immigration court. ICE provided incorrect information to the press when it claimed he had a criminal conviction.”
Earlier right this moment, Congressman Hank Johnson from Georgia posted a letter he sent to the immigration judge overseeing 21 Savage’s case, making a case for the rapper’s launch from detention. “He spends his time giving back to the community and supporting and promoting the betterment of our youth,” Johnson wrote. “He has been an outstanding figure and influence within his family and within Atlanta.”
Shortly after the arrest, 21 Savage’s lawyer Charles H. Kuck released a statement concerning the arrest, calling it “a civil law violation.” He famous that “the continued detention of [21 Savage] serves no other purpose than to unnecessarily punish him and try to intimidate him into giving up his right to fight to remain in the United States.”
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