ATLANTA — Rapper 21 Savage, whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Atlanta on Sunday.
He performed in the star-studded 2019 EA Sports Bowl at State Farm Arena on Thursday.
The 26-year-old singer and songwriter is a British national who came to the United States in 2005, according to ICE, but has overstayed his visa.
Read the full statement from ICE below:
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested unlawfully present United Kingdom national Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph AKA “21 Savage” during a targeted operation with federal and local law enforcement partners early Sunday in metro Atlanta. Mr. Abraham-Joseph was taken into ICE custody as he is unlawfully present in the U.S. and also a convicted felon. "Mr. Abraham-Joseph 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, Mr. Abraham-Joseph was convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia. "Mr. Abraham-Joseph is presently in ICE custody in Georgia and has been placed into removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts. ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions.”
21 Savage has done collaborations with several well-known artists, including Post Malone, Drake and Cardi B.
