21 Savage released from ICE custody

Alex Young
Updated
The rapper has been granted bond pending a deportation hearing.

After nearly two weeks in custody, 21 Savage has been granted bond pending a deportation hearing, according to TMZ.

The 26-year-old rapper (born Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) was arrested Sunday (February 3rd) by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a subsequent statement, an ICE spokesperson alleged 21 Savage to be a “United Kingdom national” who “initially entered the U.S. legally in July 2005, but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of his nonimmigrant visa.”

21 Savage’s attorneys argued that he lost his legal status in 2006 “through no fault of his own” and applied for a visa in 2017 once he learned he was in the country illegally. They also questioned the legality of his detainment, arguing that he is not subject to mandatory detention under federal law and should be granted bond.

A judge clearly agreed with 21 Savage’s lawyers, as he was granted bond on Tuesday.

In a statement, the rapper’s lawyers said,

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.

This is a developing story