ATLANTA—Grammy-nominated rapper 21 Savage was taken into federal immigration custody early on Sunday, Feb. 3, authorities said.
The artist, whose given name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested in a targeted operation in the Atlanta area involving local and federal law enforcement officers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Bryan Cox said in an emailed statement. Abraham-Joseph is a British citizen who overstayed his visa and is also has a felony conviction, Cox said.
21 Savage ARRESTED by ICE for possible DEPORTATION from the U.S.
由 TMZ 发布于 2019年2月3日周日
“We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with the authorities to clear up any misunderstandings,” lawyer Dina LaPolt told TMZ, without elaborating.
He claimed that the rapper is “a role model to the young people in the country … and is actively working in the community leading programs to help underprivileged youths in financial literacy.”
According to TMZ, it’s not clear what UK territory he is from, but reports have indicated that he hails from the Caribbean island of Dominica, an associated state of the UK.
Abraham-Joseph is nominated for two awards at next week’s Grammys, including record of the year for “Rockstar” alongside Post Malone. His second solo album “I Am I Was,” released in December, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Abraham-Joseph performed in Atlanta as recently as Thursday, Jan. 31, during the Super Bowl Music Fest at State Farm Arena, WSB reported.
BREAKING: The "Bank Account" rapper has held several back to school events in what he called his hometown of east Atlanta, Georgia.
由 WSB-TV 发布于 2019年2月3日周日
Abraham-Joseph entered the U.S. legally in July 2005, but has been present in the country illegally since his visa expired in July 2006, Cox said. He was convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Cox said.
He has been placed in deportation proceedings in federal immigration court, Cox said.
21 Savage has been arrested by ICE, who claim that the rapper was "unlawfully present" in the the US after overstaying his British visa.
由 SPIN 发布于 2019年2月3日周日
LeBron James apologized in December for posting one of Abraham-Joseph’s lyrics that referenced “Jewish money.” The basketball star apologized on ESPN, saying he got caught up in the music and thought the lyric was a “compliment.”
The rapper later tweeted his own apology for the lyric from the song “ASMR,” which says, “We been getting that Jewish money, Everything is Kosher.”
The Jewish people I know are very wise with there money so that’s why I said we been gettin Jewish money I never thought anyone would take offense I’m sorry if I offended everybody never my intention I love all people
— Saint Laurent Don (@21savage) December 25, 2018
The Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
