Rapper 21 Savage was arrested by U.S. immigration officials on Sunday, who said he was illegally in the country and a convicted felon.
The rapper — whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph — came to the United States from the UK as a teenager in 2005, overstaying his visa to settle in Atlanta, said Bryan Cox, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Cox said Abraham-Joseph was in custody in Georgia and faced deportation proceedings in federal immigration courts. Abraham-Joseph was convicted on felony drug charges in Georgia in 2014, and was arrested on Sunday as part of a targeted operation with the cooperation of local law enforcement.
21 Savage’s attorney, Dina LaPolt, told Variety that Abraham-Joseph was a “role model” who was working on financial literacy programs aimed at helping underprivileged youth. “We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with authorities to clear up any misunderstanding,” she said.
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