Could 21 Savage be deported by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement following an arrest in Atlanta on Super Bowl Sunday?
According to documents, 21 is actually from the United Kingdom, with his birth certificate proving he was born in London until coming to the U.S. on a Visa in 2005. ICE says that he is an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national” that has been here illegally since 2006, when he came to Atlanta with his mother and his Visa expired. ICE also claims that “his whole public persona is false” after the arrest.
21’s sister Jayda tweeted support for her brother:
But Shaayaa moved to America when he was mad young, so he basically is American, he grew up there
— Claire Voyance 🔮 (@Jayda_Davis) February 3, 2019
I'm bare confused as to how they're trying to deport him though… He's been comfortable this whole time, even when he was gangbanging and shit. This smells fishy
— Claire Voyance 🔮 (@Jayda_Davis) February 3, 2019
Following the news, Savage’s attorney Charles H. Kuck released a statement saying:
“The Department of Homeland Security has known his address and his history since his filing for the U Visa in 2017, yet they took no action against him until this past weekend. As a minor, [Savage]’s family overstayed their work visas, and he, like almost two million other children, was left without legal status through no fault of his own. This is a civil law violation, and the continued detention of Mr. Abraham-Joseph 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.”
Kuck also says that 21’s 2014 federal drug charges are what flagged him to be looked at by ICE in the first place. He argues that his client is not a flight risk or a danger to his community because of his charitable works but he will fight for his release and his right to stay in the country.
UPDATE: 21’s attorney’s issue an official statement, clearing up some of the misconceptions that have been flying in the media. Read below:
Mr. Abraham-Joseph was born in the United Kingdom. Mr. Abraham-Joseph arrived legally in the United states at the age of 7 under an H-4 visa. He remained in the United States until June 2005, when he departed for approximately one month to visit the United Kingdom. He returned to the United States under a valid H-4 visa on July 22, 2005. Mr. Abraham-Joseph has been continuously physically present in the United States for almost 20 years, except for a brief visit abroad. Unfortunately, in 2006 Mr. Abraham-Joseph lost his legal status through no fault of his own.
Mr. Abraham-Joseph, like almost two million of his immigrant child peers, was left without immigration status as a young child with no way to fix his immigration status. These “Dreamers” come from all walks of life and every ethnicity.
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.
Mr. Abraham-Joseph was placed into deportation proceedings AFTER his arrest, he was not in deportation proceedings prior to this detention by ICE. DHS has known his address since the filing of a U visa application in 2017. He has never hidden from DHS or any of its agencies.
Mr. Abraham-Joseph is not subject to mandatory detention under federal law and is eligible for bond. By statute, bond should be granted by ICE when there is no flight risk or a danger to the community. ICE has the ability to set a bond and conditions of release on cases exactly like this. ICE routinely grants bond to individuals in Mr. Abraham-Joseph’s circumstances, specifically individuals who have overstayed a prior valid visa and have relief from deportation under federal law. There is no chance that Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a flight risk. Mr. Abraham-Joseph is not a “danger” to the community as his acts of philanthropy and good will, as well as his music, continue to improve the communities from which he comes.
Mr. Abraham-Joseph has a pending U visa application with the USCIS. This U visa was filed as a result of being the victim of a deadly shooting in 2013. That visa was filed in 2017 and remains pending. When granted, the U visa will afford him lawful status in the United States. Generally, ICE has recognized a pending facially valid U visa as a basis to delay removal proceedings and release individuals from custody.
Read the full press release HERE.
UPDATE: 21 Savage’s co-manager Meezy provides update on him from inside the box.
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OS REWIND: 21 Savage’s Camp Issues Statement after ICE Arrest
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