UPDATE: After nine days of being detained by ICE, 21 Savage has now been granted a release on bond.
A few hours before the Super Bowl kicked off, news broke that 21 Savage had been arrested by ICE in Atlanta. He is currently in custody for possible removal from the U.S. as ICE claims he is a "United Kingdom national" that is "unlawfully present in the U.S."
His attorney Dina LaPolt told TMZ, "We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph (21 Savage) 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."
The news caused the Slaughter Gang/Epic rapper to trend on social media throughout Super Bowl Sunday.
21 Savage recently debuted at #1 with his album i am>i was.
UPDATE: Savage's attorney Charles H. Kuck claims that ICE is trying to intimidate his client into leaving the country he calls home.
The rapper's application for a U-Visa from 2017 is still pending and ICE has been aware of his status throughout the process.
Kuck adds, "As a minor, his family overstayed their work visas, and he, like almost two million other children, was left without legal status through no fault of his own."
The attorney says the Visa Savage applied for is based on him being a victim of a crime.
Kuck tells TMZ, 21 Savage was shot during a 2013 incident where his best friend was murdered. Kuck says he was "severely affected physically and mentally." He goes on to say being a crime victim puts 21 Savage in a position for permanent residence.
UPDATE: The rapper's legal team has issued a statement to add some clarity to the situation.
"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.
"There continues to be no legal reason to detain Mr. Abraham-Joseph for a civil law violation that occurred when he was a minor, especially when people in his exact situation are routinely released by ICE. Many have speculated as to possible ulterior motives for his arrest and detention, including that he released music five days prior to his arrest by ICE, which included new lyrics condemning the behavior of immigration officials for their detention of children at the border. We are unaware of why ICE apparently targeted Mr. Abraham-Joseph, but we will do everything possible to legally seek his release and pursue his available relief in immigration court."
Read the full statement here.
Many figures in the music community have been posting this petition to stop the deportation of 21 Savage.
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