Atlanta, GA

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly arrested 21 Savage early Sunday morning (February 3). According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, they claim he’s actually from the United Kingdom and has overstayed his visa.

ICE spokesman Brian Cox said, 21 Savage — real name Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph — was taken into custody as part of a “targeted operation.”

The I Am > I Was architect claimed to be from Atlanta and it was assumed he was just another local ATL act. But Cox said 21 Savage is an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national” who legally entered the States in July 2005 on a visa. However, his visa expired a year later and he’s remained in the U.S. illegally for the past 13 years.

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He was also convicted on drug charges in 2014.

ICE released the following statement:

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“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested unlawfully present United Kingdom national Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph AKA ’21 Savage’ during a targeted operation with federal and local law enforcement partners early Sunday in metro Atlanta. Mr. Abraham-Joseph was taken into ICE custody as he is unlawfully present in the U.S. and also a convicted felon.

“Mr. Abraham-Joseph initially entered the U.S. legally in July 2005, but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of his nonimmigrant visa and he became unlawfully present in the U.S. when his visa expired in July 2006. In addition to being in violation of federal immigration law, Mr. Abraham-Joseph was convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia.

“Mr. Abraham-Joseph is presently in ICE custody in Georgia and has been placed into removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts. ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions.”

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This story is developing. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]