ATLANTA — Attorneys for rapper 21 Savage say the 26-year-old has lived in the U.S. since age 7, and the federal immigration authorities who are detaining him are incorrect that he has a felony conviction on his record.
Kuck Baxter Immigration, the law firm representing the rapper whose real name is She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, issued a new statement Tuesday.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had said when announcing Abraham-Joseph's arrest in the Atlanta area Sunday that he had come to the U.S. at age 12 in 2005. But Abraham-Joseph's lawyers say that was a return to the U.S. after a brief return visit to his birthplace in England.
Both sides agree Abraham-Joseph's legal status ended in 2006.
21 Savage's attorneys also said ICE was incorrect in saying he had a criminal conviction. Fulton county prosecutors say records are sealed and they can't comment on that case.
An ICE spokesman declined further.
Channel 2 Action News first told you about the Grammy-nominated rapper's arrest Sunday.