Rapper 21 Savage Arrested By ICE in Atlanta: ‘His Whole Public Persona Is False’

Rapper 21 Savage was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Atlanta Sunday over alleged immigration violations.

A statement from ICE, reported by Fox5 Atlanta, details the alleged immigration violations of 21 Savage, whose real name is Sha Taa Bin Abraham-Joseph.

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.

The rapper’s attorney, Dina LaPolt, tells TMZ, “We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph 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 Atlanta rapper is a popular artist in the United States, known for his songs “A Lot” and “No Heart.” However, according to law enforcement, “his whole public persona is false.”