21 Savage latest: Rapper could face 10-year-ban from the US, lawyer says

Olivia Tobin5 February 2019

Grammy Award-nominated 21 Savage could face a 10-year-ban from the US and have to apply for specialist permission to perform in the country, an immigration lawyer said.

The Atlanta rapper was arrested and is being held in federation immigration custody in Georgia, after he was accused of overstaying his visa.

Authorities claim the 26-year-old is a British citizen and has overstayed his visa, which expired in 2005.

Hours after news of his arrest emerged, a copy of the rapper's birth certificate was obtained by the MailOnline, that appears to show that he was born in the borough of Newham, east London.

The birth certificate apparently reveals he was born in Plaistow.

Savage's lawyer has vowed the artist will fight to stay in the US, claiming his arrest was "based upon incorrect information about prior criminal charges".

Attorney Charles Kuck said: "ICE has not charged Mr Abraham-Joseph with any crime.

"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."

Anastasia Tonello, an immigration lawyer with New York-based Laura Devine Attorneys, said the musician could be a "good case" for Donald Trump's administration, which has cracked down on immigration.

21 Savage was arrested by US immigration officials who say the rapper is a UK native and is in the country illegally.
AP

She said: "He is obviously not a poster child to stay. It's probably a very good case for the administration.

"Even if they did not do it in an overt way, he is not sympathetic. The story may change but the fact is he has been convicted of something, he did not finish high school - he does not exude sympathy."

Ms Tonello said 21 Savage could be subject to a 10-year ban to the US for overstaying his visa by more than 12 months, but could apply for specialist permission to enter the country to perform.

The lawyer said it is surprising ICE was not notified of 21 Savage's criminal conviction in 2014, as Atlanta is not a Sanctuary City for immigrants and authorities usually share information with immigration officials.

The 26-year-old is currently being held in custody in Georgia
Getty Images

She said his staying in the country may have been a case of "priorities", adding: "It shows a dysfunction with the system. They have someone right under their noses. I doubt it was any reason except poor system processing."

ICE has been approached for comment over whether they were informed of 21 Savage's conviction in 2014.

As of Monday, 21 Savage was in ICE custody in Georgia while awaiting a federal immigration judge to determine future actions.

After news of his detainment broke, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: "Our staff are in contact with the lawyer of a British man following his detention in the US."

Dina LaPolt, the rapper's lawyer, said on Sunday his legal team is "working diligently" to free him from detention while they "work with the authorities to clear up any misunderstandings".

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