Rapper 21 Savage has been taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement following a “targeted operation” in Atlanta on Sunday.
According to the media reports, the Grammy-nominated rapper came to the US as a teenager in 2005 from the UK but did not leave when his visa expired a year later. He was subsequently convicted on felony charges in 2014.
“The rapper initially entered the US legally in July 2005, but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of his nonimmigrant visa and he became unlawfully present in the US when his visa expired in July 2006,” the ICE spokesman told a leading media house.
21 Savage, whose real name is Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, has previously described a childhood in Atlanta during interviews.
“His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the US from the UK as a teen and overstayed his visa,” the official added.
He has been placed in deportation proceedings in federal immigration court.
21 Savage is nominated for two awards at next week’s Grammys, including record of the year for “Rockstar” alongside Post Malone.
His second solo album “I Am I Was,” released in December, debuted at No 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
