The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Grammy-nominated rapper 21 Savage, saying he was illegally present in the country, according to an agency spokesperson.
ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox said on Sunday that the rapper, whose real name is Shayaabin Abraham-Joseph, is a citizen of the UK, CNN reported.
The agency has alleged that he entered the US legally in July 2005, when he was a minor, but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of his non-immigrant visa.
His visa expired in July 2006, according to the ICE.
After he was arrested in Atlanta on Sunday, “Abraham-Joseph is presently in ICE custody (in the city) and has been placed into removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts”, the agency said in a statement.
“ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions.”
An attorney for Abraham-Joseph said his representatives were working to secure his release.
“We are working diligently to get Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with the authorities to clear up any misunderstandings,” Dina LaPolt told CNN on Sunday night. (IANS)
