Jay-Z says 21 Savage’s arrest “is an absolute travesty” and hires lawyer to fight against deportation

Jay has spoken out in support of the detained rapper

Jay-Z has branded 21 Savage‘s recent arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as “an absolute travesty” and has reportedly hired a lawyer to fight against his deportation.

21, real name She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested and detained in Atlanta on Sunday (February 3) by ICE agents, with the department saying that the rapper is a British citizen who “is unlawfully present in the U.S.”. 21’s lawyer has since confirmed that the rapper was born in London, clarifying that he moved to the US with his parents at the age of 7 and that his legal status in the country expired in July 2006 “through no fault of his own”.

21 has also claimed through his lawyers that he applied for a new visa in 2017, with his legal team saying that they now “will do everything possible to legally seek his release and pursue his available relief in immigration court”.

Advertisement

21 Savage

The case has seen numerous artists back 21, with the likes of Cardi B, Pusha T and Offset all calling for his release. Jay-Z has now offered his support for the rapper, calling the latter’s arrest and detention “an absolute travesty”.

“The arrest and detention of 21 Savage is an absolute travesty, his U-visa petition has been pending for four years,” Jay said in a statement which was released today (February 6) by his entertainment company Roc Nation. “In addition to being a successful recording artist, 21 deserves to be reunited with his children immediately. #Free21Savage”

In addition to the statement, TMZ now claims that Jay and Roc Nation have hired the services of attorney Alex Spiro to assist with 21’s case.

Georgia state Rep. Hank Johnson has also publicly supported 21, penning an impassioned character letter to the immigration judge in charge of the rapper’s case.

Advertisement

“I know [21] to be a remarkable young man,” Johnson writes. “He spends his time giving back to our community and has been living a life of paying it forward. I believe that it would be a serious hardship to [21’s] family and a loss for our community, if he is not allowed bail so that he can be released from detention.

“He has been an outstanding figure and influence within his family and within Atlanta.”

You May Also Like

Advertisement

TRENDING

Advertisement

More Stories