Rapper 21 Savage Arrested By ICE Agents

Rapper 21 Savage

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, better known as rapper 21 Savage, into custody early Sunday morning in Atlanta after a “targeted  operation with federal and local law enforcement partners.”

Though he is often touted as a local Atlanta rapper, ICE officials say he is actually “a United Kingdom national” and has overstayed his visa, reports The Washington Post.

The arrest occurred days after the rapper performed in Atlanta at the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest during Super Bowl week.

21 Savage is best known for his single “Bank Account” as well as being featured on hit songs such as Post Malone’s “Rockstar,” Cardi B’s “Bartier Cardi” and Drake’s “Sneakin'." His latest album, “I Am > I Was,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in January.

“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,” ICE spokesman Bryan Cox told The Washington Post in a statement.

“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,” the statement added.

The rapper has been placed in “removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts,” Cox said. “ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions.”

ICE, though, says he was born in the United Kingdom and entered the country in the summer of 2005.

“His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the U.S. from the U.K. as a teen and overstayed his visa,” an ICE spokesperson reportedly told CNN correspondent Nick Valencia.