After being detained for nine days by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), rapper 21 Savage has finally been granted a release on bond.
This will come with a sigh of relief for the Atlanta based rapper who is currently involved in an immigration battle with the ICE.
Born Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, the Grammy-nominated rapper was arrested in Atlanta by ICE officials on charges of being in the country illegally.
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In a statement, the ICE claimed the 26-year-old rapper, who was born in the United Kingdom legally entered the United States from his country of birth in 2005 with a temporary nonimmigrant visa but failed to leave when the visa expired the following year.
In a statement released by his RocNation label, Jay-Z called 21 Savage’s arrest and detention a travesty and demanded his immediate release. He is reported to have hired the services of attorney Alex Spiro to help with the case.
In a statement released on behalf of 21 Savage on Tuesday, his lawyers, Charles Kuck, Dina LaPolt and Alex Spiro confirmed his release and thanked his fans and supporters:
For the past 9 long days, we, on behalf of She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, known to the world as 21 Savage, have been speaking with ICE to both clarify his actual legal standing, his eligibility for bond, and provide evidence of his extraordinary contributions to his community and society.
In the last 24 hours, in the wake of the Grammy Awards at which he was scheduled to attend and perform, we received notice that She’yaa was granted an expedited hearing.
Today, 21 Savage was granted a release on bond. He won his freedom.
21 Savage asked us to send a special message to his fans and supporters—he says that while he wasn’t present at the Grammy Awards, he was there in spirit and is grateful for the support from around the world and is more than ever, ready to be with his loved ones and continue making music that brings people together.
He will not forget this ordeal or any of the other fathers, sons, family members, and faceless people, he was locked up with or that remain unjustly incarcerated across the country. And he asks for your hearts and minds to be with them.
A highly popular rapper in his supposed home city of Atlanta with a very strong fan base, news of 21 Savage’s arrest came as shock to many as he is always known to be a native of the city.
The support he received from his fans, peers and colleagues during his detention was, however, overwhelming.
