Rapper 21 Savage arrested for overstaying US visa
The musician, who US officials say is a British citizen, is in custody and is facing聽deportation proceedings.
Monday 4 February 2019 12:29, UK
Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage has been arrested by US immigration officials and is facing deportation because they say he is from the UK.
US immigration spokesman Bryan Cox said the Grammy-nominated musician, whose given name is Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested in a targeted operation early on Sunday in Atlanta, Georgia.
He said Abraham-Joseph is a British citizen who entered the US legally in July 2005 at the age of 12, but failed to leave under the terms of a non-immigrant visa, which expired in July 2006.
According to US media reports, a US immigration and customs official said: "His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the US from the UK as a teen and overstayed his visa."
He has rapped about a childhood in Atlanta in his music.
The 26-year-old is now in custody and is facing deportation proceedings in a federal immigration court.
His lawyer, Dina LaPolt, told Variety magazine that Abraham-Joseph was a "role model" who was working on financial literacy programmes aimed at helping underprivileged youth.
"We are working diligently to get Mr Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with authorities to clear up any misunderstanding," she said.
The rapper has been nominated for two awards at next week's Grammys, including record of the year for Rockstar alongside Post Malone.
The Foreign Office said in a statement: "Our staff are in contact with the lawyer of a British man following his detention in the USA."