ICE Agents Arrested 21 Savage, Saying He Is A British Citizen And His Visa Had Expired, According To Reports

An ICE spokesperson said that 21 Savage, whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, arrived in the US in 2005.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested 21 Savage on Sunday, claiming that the Atlanta-based rapper is from the UK and his visa expired, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the AP.

An ICE spokesperson told the AJC that 21 Savage, whose real name is She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was taken into custody in a "targeted operation."

Abraham-Joseph was described by the spokesperson as an "unlawfully present United Kingdom national" who entered the US in July 2005 on a visa that expired a year later.

BREAKING- @ICEgov spokesman tells me @21savage was taken into custody by ICE. “His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the U.S. from the U.K. as a teen and overstayed his visa.” MORE COMING

21 has claimed to be from Atlanta and has long been considered a local in city's expansive list of rappers. He performed in Atlanta on Thursday in the Super Bowl Music Fest at State Farm Arena.

ICE representatives told the AJC and the AP that he has been placed in deportation proceedings.

Abraham-Joseph's attorney, Dina LaPolt, told TMZ that the team is working with authorities to "clear up any misunderstanding" and secure his release.

Representatives for ICE and Abraham-Joseph did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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