The rapper was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Sunday
Records have revealed that 21 Savage was born in the London Borough of Newham, report Complex.
The Billboard Award winner was arrested on Sunday by controversial US agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
US officials claim that the 26-year-old was born in the UK. Allegedly, he emigrated to the USA in July 2005, aged 12, and overstayed his visa when it expired a year later.
21 Savage, real name Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was previously believed to have been born in Atlanta, Georgia, as he has said himself during many interviews.
“Mr. Abraham-Joseph is presently in ICE custody in Georgia and has been placed into removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts,” ICE said in a statement.
CNN reporter Nick Valencia quoted an ICE spokesman as saying: “His whole public persona is false”.
BREAKING- @ICEgov spokesman tells me @21savage was taken into custody by ICE. “His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the U.S. from the U.K. as a teen and overstayed his visa.” MORE COMING
— Nick Valencia (@CNNValencia) February 3, 2019
“ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions.”
The rapper’s lawyer, Dina LaPolt, has issued a statement regarding his arrest: “We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with the authorities to clear up any misunderstandings.
“Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a role model to the young people in this country, especially in Atlanta, Georgia, and is actively working in the community leading programs to help underprivileged youths in financial literacy.”
