Rapper 21 Savage is reportedly being forced and intimidated into leaving the United States.
According to 21’s lawyer, Attorney Charles H. Kuck, the 26-year-old hip hop star born Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph never hid the fact that he was in the U.S. illegally, TMZ reports. Kuck says his client actually applied for an official U-Visa back in 2017 and the application is pending. Despite ICE being aware of this, the organization took no action until this weekend when he was arrested and detained for possible deportation back to the United Kingdom.
RELATED: 21 Savage Facing Deportation Back to The U.K. After ICE Arrest
The attorney also called out ICE for including 21’s prior criminal charges, because they were expunged last September after the rapper pled guilty to felony drug possession back in 2014.
The Atlanta rapper’s lawyer continued to slam ICE for detaining his client who he claims is not a threat to his community nor is he a flight risk. He also mentioned the rapper’s three children who are all U.S. citizens.
“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 added that his client has “U.S. citizen children” whom he supports and is eligible for relief from deportation. The attorney went on to accuse ICE of trying to “unnecessarily punish him,” claiming the agency is trying
“to intimidate him into giving up his right to fight to remain in the United States.”
Kuck revealed to TMZ that 21 applied for a Visa given to those who are a victim of crime. It stems from a 2013 incident where 21 Savage was shot and his best friend was murdered.
Kuck says he was “severely affected physically and mentally.”
The attorney argues that being a crime victim places 21 Savage in a position for permanent residency in the U.S. An online petition has since been started by the co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Patrisse Cullors, in an attempt to stop the possible deportation of 21 Savage.
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