Should entertainers get special privileges when it comes to complying with immigration laws? America is the most generous nation in the world, but when it comes to foreigners who thumb their noses at our laws, shouldn’t they be shown the door?
According to CNN – Grammy-nominated rapper 21 Savage was arrested in Atlanta early Sunday by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox. The agency says he is illegally present in the United States.
ICE says that the rapper, whose real name is Shayaabin Abraham-Joseph, is a citizen of the United Kingdom, according to Cox. The agency alleges that he entered the US legally in July 2005, when he was a minor, but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of his nonimmigrant visa. ICE says Abraham-Joseph became unlawfully present when his visa expired in July 2006.
“Mr. Abraham-Joseph is presently in ICE custody in Georgia and has been placed into removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts,” ICE 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 Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with the authorities to clear up any misunderstandings,” Dina LaPolt said in a statement to CNN. “Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a role model to the young people in this country, especially in Atlanta, Georgia, and is actively working in the community leading programs to help underprivileged youths in financial literacy.”
Abraham-Joseph was also convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia, ICE said.
Cox said Abraham-Joseph was arrested in a targeted sting.
Only months before the 2016 presidential election, Fader magazine published an interview with the rapper. In the interview, 21 Savage said that he didn’t know much about Trump, other than “he hates anybody that ain’t white or some shit like that.”
“It’s one simple thing that would get rid of all the problems in the world,” Savage Mode rapper 21 Savage said on Wednesday, during a visit to The FADER’s New York office.
“If no Americans had no guns there wouldn’t be no police killing people,” he continued. “That’s the easiest and simplest way to solve it. To take everybody’s guns, not just the civilians. Take the police’s guns too.”
He hasn’t followed the campaign of the Republican nominee closely, he said. “I don’t really follow up on what [Trump] do. I’m not a social media like internet type, news and politics type. I just know that he’s said he hates anybody that ain’t white or some shit like that. He anti-American or something. I’d have to look him up and see what he’s been saying at his rallies to really give you a good answer.
