The Case of 21 Savage and Immigration in the US

[PACOX]

I know a lot of you are culturally oblivious so some background info.

21 Savage is a rapper out of Atlanta, Georgia. During Super Bowl weekend he was taken into custody by ICE for an expired Visa. What makes this case interesting is that 21 Savage has been living in the US for at least 13 years according to DHS. He came over from the UK with his parents. Apparently his parents overstayed their Visa and his H-4 (a Visa a child of a Visa holder) expired in 2006 - when he was 13. In the meantime the US became the only home that he has ever known. He went school here, started a career here, raised his children here, generated millions of dollars in revenue for his neighborhood, paid his taxes, etc.

Some things to note:

• He clearly established residency in the US
• DHS/Immigration knew of him or had the resources to know of him being a high profile public figure.
• He wasn't hiding. The H4 business wasn't his fault. He applied for U-Visa in 2017
• Before anyone brings it up. He was a troubled teen from a poor area and does have an expunged felony charge

My question - is DHS stupid or petty?

And now, the story:

21 Savage is being denied a release on bail in the wake of his arrest yesterday by ICE officials, according to a statement from his attorney, who also say that he was arrested "based upon incorrect information about prior criminal charges." The attorney, Charles H. Kuck, also claims that the rapper (legal name: She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) has never hidden his immigration status from the U.S.government, that he has a pending U-Visa application (as the victim of an unspecified crime) and that the Department of Homeland Security has known his address since he filed for the that visa in 2017.

Officials for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to Variety's requests for comment.

ICE claims that Savage is a British citizen whose U.S. visa expired in 2006; since his rise to fame in 2015 he has claimed to be from Atlanta, and most fans were surprised to learn that he is British. Complicating his immigration status is the fact that he was reportedly convicted of felony drug charges in 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia, although his attorney disputes that claim.

"ICE detained She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, the well-known Atlantabased recording artist and songwriter also known as '21 Savage,'" the statement reads. "Based upon incorrect information about prior criminal charges and now refusing to release him on bond of any amount, despite the fact that he has a pending U-Visa application (as the victim of crime) with USCIS, and that he has relief from removal available to him. Mr. Abraham-Joseph has never hid his immigration status from the US government. The Department of Homeland Security has known his address and his history since his filing for the U Visa in 2017, yet they took no action against him until this past weekend. ICE can only continue to detain individuals who are a threat the community or a flight risk to not show up at their hearings. Obviously, our client is not a flight risk, as he is widely recognizable, and a prominent member of the music industry. Likewise, Mr. Abraham-Joseph is clearly not a danger to the community, and in fact, his contributions to local communities and schools that he grew up in are examples of the type of immigrant we want in America.

"ICE has not charged Mr. Abraham-Joseph with any crime," the statement continues. "As a minor, his family overstayed their work visas, and he, like almost two million other children, was left without legal status through no fault of his own. This is a civil law violation, and the continued detention of Mr. Abraham-Joseph serves no other purpose than to unnecessarily punish him and try to intimidate him into giving up his right to fight to remain in the United States. He rose above the difficult circumstances of his youth to achieve success and make contributions to our society that rival any of those by a natural born citizen. Mr. Abraham-Joseph has US citizen children that he supports and is eligible for relief from deportation. We and he will fight for his release, for his family, and his right to remain in our country. No one would expect less from him."

On Sunday, ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox said, "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."

A coalition to stop 21 Savage's deportation has been created by several civil and immigration rights organizations, and petitions have been circulated as well.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/enter...204-story.html

[Dug]

Just ICE flexing their power for no real reason other than to be dicks. Probably a pet project of some higher up who hates modern rappers if I had to guess.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Because immigration law is being used for racism it's not about protecting the country.

Although if it's all the same they can keep this guy "21 Savage"

[Sunseeker]

DHS/ICE are generally dicks who only go for low-hanging fruit.

[Cracked]

Because immigration law is being used for racism it's not about protecting the country.

Although if it's all the same they can keep this guy "21 Savage"

Tell me more about how laws are racist.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Tell me more about how laws are racist.

The laws are being used for racist purposes, immigration law in and of itself is not racist.

[Phildozer]

why would we want to keep someone here illegally that A.) is an actual felon B.) still promotes a criminal lifestyle in his music?

[Bryntrollian]

" He has to go back "

[Krastyn]

He went school here, started a career here, raised his children here, generated millions of dollars in revenue for his neighborhood, paid his taxes, etc.

Kicked out of many schools here, was a drug dealer here, robbed people here. As long as you do some good that outweighs any bad, right?

He clearly established residency in the US

And he had 8 years to apply for actual residency.

[*]DHS/Immigration knew of him or had the resources to know of him being a high profile public figure.

Why would they know of him? Should DHS be doing background checks of every single person in the US? They definitely do not have the resources for it.

He wasn't hiding. The H4 business wasn't his fault. He applied for U-Visa in 2017

Lying about where you are from isn't hiding?

Before anyone brings it up. He was a troubled teen from a poor area and does have an expunged felony charge

So in the US illegally, convicted felon, past history of felonies. Arrested for deportation. Seems like ICE is doing their job.

[Phildozer]

Are you from the 80s? Should we ban hiphop, punk, deathmetal? What else?

we should deport people who are here illegally in the first place and proceed to break yet another law to become a felon. if you disagree you're not worth talking to.

[LedZeppelin]

[Shadowferal]

umm...so they want to give him a free trip back to the UK?
...and that's wrong?

[GreenJesus]

He's a felon. Just because he's famous doesn't exempt him from the law.

[PACOX]

why would we want to keep someone here illegally that A.) is an actual felon B.) still promotes a criminal lifestyle in his music?

Not a Felon. His record was expunged. Since then he has given thousands to schools and the underprivileged. His detention has nothing to do with that charge. Hell, even Trump said people need to lay off that bullshit when it comes to people who have done their time.

Miss me the privileged nonsense of it being okay for particular genres to talk about anti-social behavior but not others.

[Gambit5555]

Not a Felon. His record was expunged. Since then he has given thousands to schools and the underprivileged. His detention has nothing to do with that charge. Hell, even Trump said people need to lay off that bullshit when it comes to people who have done their time.

Miss me the privileged nonsense of it being okay for particular genres to talk about anti-social behavior but not others.

Here, illegally, despite the fact that he had had the opportunity and financial well being to apply for full citizenship. I feel less sympathy for him than for most illegal immigrants. He has the capability to be here legally and chose not to. Then wants a pity party when he is busted. Piss off, gtfo.

[PACOX]

I don't know. He was found guilty of felony drug charges in 2014, under Obama. Was his immigration status known in 2014? Was he not deported as the law requires, because Obama didn't enforce the law? Either way, he wasn't deported and was released to the public. Trump changed Obama's amnesty, and is it possible this person had their number called in the proper order?

His H4 visa expired 13 years ago when he was 13. He came to the US when he was 7. DACA has not been overturned and likely to be overturned. He applied for a visa as soon as he could afford a lawyer two years ago. He is basically a Dreamer - even if he did not finish high school he ended up very successful.

[dragonballgtz]

Freakin hilarious his twitter is trying to make it a BLM issue as well LOL!!!

You running the streets, being bout dat life, and you're an illegal... see ya homie! Enjoy your flight back to the UK

[PACOX]

Here, illegally, despite the fact that he had had the opportunity and financial well being to apply for full citizenship. I feel less sympathy for him than for most illegal immigrants. He has the capability to be here legally and chose not to. Then wants a pity party when he is busted. Piss off, gtfo.

Yeah, you didn't read the article because he did apply once he got money. The system is extremely slow. It's easy to violate immigration law and harder to fix if you don't want to be deported for 10 years...unless you are connected like FLOTUS.

The system does not work in an efficient manner. That's why a lot of detentions similar to this one where someone has established a career and residence end up overturned or in permanent limbo.

[Jinpachi]

DHS is neither. That's what fuckin' happens when you roll the dice. Too bad for him he crapped out this time. Boo-fuckin'-hoo

Also, just saw that he didn't have a diploma...yeah, fuck him, back across the pond with his punk ass

[Bryntrollian]

He's a Multi-Millionaire, I'm sure he will be fine in Brexit.