Lawyers for rapper 21 Savage say he has been released on bond from federal immigration custody.
In a statement, lawyers Charles Kuck, Dina LaPolt and Alex Spiro said the rapper, whose given name is She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was released Wednesday.
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He was granted bond for release Tuesday after spending more than a week in federal immigration custody, but he wasn’t freed right away, his lawyer said.
The 26-year-old rapper was granted bond too late Tuesday to be released right away, immigration lawyer Charles Kuck said by phone to the Associated Press, adding that he anticipates his client will be released Wednesday.
21 Savage was taken into immigration custody early on Feb. 3.
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“For the past 9 long days, we, on behalf of She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, known to the world as 21 Savage, have been speaking with ICE to both clarify his actual legal standing, his eligibility for bond, and provide evidence of his extraordinary contributions to his community and society,” the statement began.
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The statement continued: “In the last 24 hours, in the wake of the Grammy Awards at which he was scheduled to attend and perform, we received notice that She’yaa was granted an expedited hearing.
“Today, 21 Savage was granted a release on bond. He won his freedom.”
“21 Savage asked us to send a special message to his fans and supporters—he says that while he wasn’t present at the Grammy Awards, he was there in spirit and is grateful for the support from around the world and is more than ever, ready to be with his loved ones and continue making music that brings people together,” the statement read.
“He will not forget this ordeal or any of the other fathers, sons, family members, and faceless people, he was locked up with or that remain unjustly incarcerated across the country. And he asks for your hearts and minds to be with them,” the statement concluded, signed by Charles Kuck, Dina Laporte, and Alex Spiro.
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Roc Nation issued a statement as well, saying, “We are pleased that 21 Savage was released on bond and will be reunited with his children after his incarceration. We will continue to stand with 21 Savage and all the families that continue to be unfairly victimized by our country’s broken immigration policies.”
Black Lives Matter also tweeted in support of 21 Savage.
“Today, 21 Savage was granted a release on bond. He won his freedom. Charles H. Kuck, Dina LaPolt and Alex Spiro on behalf of She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph aka “21 Savage” #Free21Savage #BlackLivesMatter,” the tweet read.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the British citizen had overstayed his visa and has a felony conviction.
21 Savage was born in the London borough of Newham to British parents, according to CNN, who obtained a copy of the rapper’s birth certificate. The document lists his parents’ home as East Ham.
21 Savage’s lawyers said they’ve been speaking with ICE since his arrest to “clarify his actual legal standing, his eligibility for bond, and provide evidence of his extraordinary contributions to his community and society.”
They have previously said the 26-year-old rapper was brought to the U.S. when he was seven years old and his legal status expired in 2006 through no fault of his own.
The rapper has several relatives in the United States, including his three children who are all U.S. citizens, and his mother and four siblings, who are either lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens, his lawyer previously said.
—With files from the Associated Press
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