Grammy-nominated rapper 21 Savage has been arrested by ICE officers and is in federal immigration custody in Georgia.
ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox described the arrest as the outcome of a “targeted operation.”
Cox says 21 Savage, real name Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was in fact “an unlawfully present United Kingdom national” who entered the country in 2005 at the age of 12, on a visa that expired a year later.
This comes as a shock to his fans, who considered the rapper an Atlanta local.
Abraham-Joseph, who previously dated model Amber Rose, is nominated for two 2019 Grammy Awards for his work as a featured artist on Post Malone’s song “Rockstar”; the awards ceremony takes place next Sunday.
He released his debut, “The Slaughter Tape” mixtape, in 2015 and signed with Epic Records.
His most recent album, “I Am > I Was,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
He performed in Atlanta as recently as Thursday in the Super Bowl Music Fest at State Farm Arena.
Bin Abraham’s birth was registered in the London borough of Newham in 1992.
Cox says Abraham-Joseph has been placed in deportation proceedings in federal immigration court.
“ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions,” Cox said.
His attorney, Dina LaPolt, said she’s working to get him out of custody.
LaPolt told TMZ, ‘We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with authorities to clear up any misunderstanding.
Cox said Abraham-Joseph was convicted on felony drug charges in Georgia in October 2014.
Not only has 21 Savage presented himself as an Atlanta local, he’s also dedicated himself to charitable work in the local community.
Last August, he hosted his third annual “Issa Back 2 School Drive,” which provided students in his old neighborhood with backpacks, school supplies, and even haircuts.
Last spring, he went on Ellen to announce that he was sponsoring a financial literacy campaign for children.