Immigration authorities were trying to "unnecessarily punish" and "intimidate" 21 Savage into giving up his fight to remain in the United States, his lawyer said Monday, as the rapper faces deportation and potentially a 10-year ban from reentering the country. The U.K. national, whose real name is She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, “never hid his immigration status” from the U.S. government and has a pending U visa as the victim of a crime, his attorney, Charles Kuck, said in a statement. The musician has U.S.-born children whom he supports, which could make him eligible to stay as well, Kuck said. Abraham-Joseph, 26, was taken into custody Sunday in the Atlanta area for allegedly being in the country illegally, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement. ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said that he was also convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014. ICE said the "unlawfully present" Abraham-Joseph was brought to the U.S. as a child legally in 2005 on a visa that expired a year later in July 2006. Kuck acknowledged that Abraham-Joseph and his family did overstay their visas. “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,” Kuck said Monday. But the lawyer denied the rapper had tried to hide his immigration status. “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," he added. The rapper was in ICE custody in Georgia and placed in removal proceedings before immigration courts, the agency said Sunday. Kuck said Abraham-Joseph was detained based on "incorrect information about prior criminal charges" but did not specify what he was disputing about the charges. ICE was refusing to release Abraham-Joseph on bond, he added. Abraham-Joseph was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community, the lawyer said, adding, "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." "We and he will fight for his release, for his family, and his right to remain in our country," he said. ICE did not respond immediately to requests for comment Monday. A U visa is a special category for victims of certain crimes “who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Only 10,000 U visas are available each year. Kuck’s statement did not specify the incident based on which Abraham-Joseph applied for the visa. Anastasia Tonello, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said Abraham-Joseph could be facing "a pretty difficult case" if what ICE alleges is true. "He's in one of the most notorious jurisdictions for removal," she said. "Atlanta has a very high rate of denials on any type of discretion or relief." Tonello said the U visa application could help Abraham-Joseph's case if he receives deferred status while that case is pending. If deported, Abraham-Joseph potentially faces a ban from the U.S. of at least 10 years on the allegations that he overstayed his visa alone, and would need a waiver to come back to the country even as a visitor, she said. Tonello said that based upon when Abraham-Joseph's visa is said to have expired, he could have qualified for deportation relief under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2012 if he graduated high school, received his general education development (GED) certificate or was honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces. Individuals do not qualify for DACA if they have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanors or a series of misdemeanors. Because the rapper reportedly dropped out of high school and was convicted on drug charges in 2014, he would not have currently qualified for relief under DACA. The program allows children of immigrants who are in the country illegally to remain in the U.S. if they were younger than 16 when their parents brought them and if they arrived by 2007, she said. The administration of President Donald Trump moved to end the program in late 2017, but federal courts in San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C., blocked that attempt. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court took no action on the program's future, a move that required the government to keep it going for at least 10 more months.<doc-sep>21 Savage's lawyer says the rapper is currently being held without bond 21 Savage's Lawyer Slams His Arrest as 'Based Upon Incorrect Information' and Demands His Release 21 Savage‘s legal team is fighting for his release. On Monday, the 26-year-old rapper’s attorney Charles H. Kuck released a statement to PEOPLE, claiming that 21 Savage’s arrest is “based upon incorrect information about prior criminal charges.” Get push notifications with news, features and more. 21 Savage was taken into custody on Sunday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which claims the rapper is actually a citizen of the United Kingdom and has overstayed his visa. ICE spokesman Brian Cox told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the rapper, born Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, is an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national” who entered the country legally as a teenager in July 2005 on a visa, which expired the following year. In the statement, Kuck revealed 21 Savage is currently being held without bond, “despite the fact that he has a pending U-Visa application with USCIS, and that he has relief from removal available to him.” Kuck also says “Mr. Abraham-Joseph has never hid his immigration status from the US Government.” 21-savage 21 Savage | Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images He also claims that the “Department of Homeland Security has known his address and his history since his filing for the U-Visa in 2017.” A U-Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that is made available to victims of a crime. 21 Savage’s attorney also slams ICE’s decision to hold the rapper — considering he is not a flight risk. “ICE can only continue to detain individuals who are 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,” the statement continued. At this time, ICE has not charged 21 Savage with any crimes, Kuck says. 2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Show Post Malone and 21 Savage at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards | Credit: John Shearer/Getty “As a minor, his family overstayed their work visas, and he, like most two million other children, was left without legal status 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,” the statement concluded. It is understood the rapper has three children. “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,” an ICE spokesman said in a statement, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. His lawyer disputes this claim. The musical artist, who previously dated Amber Rose, has been nominated for two 2018 Grammy Awards — best rap/sung performance and record of the year — for his collaboration with Post Malone on “Rockstar.” The ceremony will be held on Sunday. Speaking about his 2014 arrest, the rapper previously told GQ he was arrested after being pulled over in a car that was filled with contraband. “It wasn’t my fault, though, and I done sold every drug, robbed every — I did everything there is to do, except rob a bank. I swear to God on my life I did everything in between. And I ain’t never go to jail for that s—,” he remarked. Aside from his run-ins with the law, 21 Savage has given back to his community. Last year, 21 Savage launched “21 Savage Bank Account Campaign,” which in partnership with the nonprofit organization Get Schooled, helps teach children financial literacy.<doc-sep>21 Savage's attorney Charles H. Kuck has issued a statement on the rapper's recent arrest and detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E. ), as The Blast and TMZ report. ADVERTISEMENT Savage (real name She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) was arrested by I.C.E. on Sunday. The agency claimed that the rapper is originally from the United Kingdom and is not authorized to be in the United States. In his statement, Kuck said the rapper's immigration status was known to the government, and that in 2017, he applied for a U-Visa – available to those who are the victim of a crime. Kuck said: "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.” ADVERTISEMENT “As a minor," Kuck says, "[Savage]'s 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.” TMZ reports that 21 Savage's only conviction, a 2014 federal drug charge, was expunged from his record in September 2018. Kuck hinted this old charge may have played a factor in the Sunday arrest. “[I.C.E. 's arrest of Savage is] based upon incorrect information about prior criminal charges," Kuck said, adding that I.C.E "is refusing to release him on bond of any amount." Kuck argues that Savage should not be held as he is neither a flight risk thanks to his celebrity, nor a danger to his community, citing Savage's ongoing philanthropic and charitable works. Concluding that Savage "is eligible for relief from deportation," Kuck says "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.” ADVERTISEMENT The FADER has reached out for more information. Read the statement in full below via Buzzfeed.<doc-sep>
Image : Getty An attorney for 21 Savage has released a statement regarding the rapper’s arrest by ICE on Sunday, saying that he was apprehended “based upon incorrect information about prior criminal charges.” Charles H. Kuck wrote that his client—real name is She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph—has a pending U-Visa application, which are offered to victims of crimes who have suffered “substantial” physical or mental abuse. He added that 21 Savage never kept his immigration status a secret, and that the Department of Homeland Security has known his address since he applied for the visa in 2017: “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’s 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. 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.” [Pitchfork] Apparently this...worked? Hours later, @pizzahut replied “Done.” Does this mean Pizza Hut will donate “a load of pizzas” to a homeless shelter at every location where there’s a Pizza Hut? Because Wikipedia says there are 16,796 restaurants worldwide. I await further details before I praise either Pizza Hut or Sia. [Us]