21 Savage has once again found himself in the crosshairs of the legal system.
Back in 2019, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested the “a lot” rapper and alleged that he owned a bottle of codeine, which he quickly dumped outside of the car upon their arrival. They also found a handgun hidden inside his vehicle.
The rapper, real name Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph in turn purported that it was a targeted arrest, and he had done nothing wrong at that time.
“I was just driving,” the 26-year-old told GMA. “And I just seen guns and blue lights. And, then, I was in the back of a car. And I was gone.”
When asked whether he was told the reason for his arrest, he said, “No, they didn’t. They didn’t say anything. They just said, “We got Savage.” “It was definitely targeted,” he said at that time.
More than two years have passed since that arrest with fans thinking it was all over. In a twinkle of an eye, things have changed.
New Charges Brought Against 21 Savage
DeKalb County Police Department has decided not to let sleeping dogs lie by indicting the rapper with drug and gun possession charges stemming from his 2019 arrest.
Sometime this month, they had obtained a warrant from a local judge authorizing his capture based on those charges.
The rapper turned himself in, to local authorities on Thursday night to face the allegations. His attorneys claimed that he was not aware of the warrant which was issued on September 7 until Thursday.
“Last night’s manufactured charges are yet another example of how our justice system, from ICE down to the local level, unjustly targets young Black men who seek to exercise their rights. There is no legitimate basis for these charges nor for ICE’s continued antics, and we will fight until Mr. Joseph is justly vindicated,” said his lawyer Charles Kuck in a statement to TMZ.
Savage’s Lawyer Feels His Arrest Is A Witch Hunt
The rapper first came under the scrutiny of ICE after it was discovered he was living in America illegally. The case revealed he was born in Britain and relocated to the United States as a child.
Kuck believes ICE is using the DeKalb County Police Department as a pawn to pursue their agenda of deporting 21 Savage to the United Kingdom.
“The warrant appears to have been sought at the behest of ICE, as the warrant was issued in the eve of an Immigration Court hearing in Mr. Joseph’s deportation proceeding, and is based upon events that transpired on the evening that ICE arrested Mr. Joseph over 2 and one-half years ago,” Kuck continued in his statement.
“There can be no doubt that ICE is seeking to cover its own errors in detaining Mr. Jospeh by pushing trumped-up charges against him and seeks to stop him from obtaining lawful permanent residence in the United States” Kuck stated.
The Rapper Was Released On Bond
After turning himself in, 21 Savage was released on bond into the custody of his lawyers on Thursday night.
The lawyers also appreciated the local authorities but maintained their stance in securing a permanent residency status for their client despite the clog in their plan by his arrest.
“We are grateful for the efforts of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for quickly processing and releasing Mr. Joseph,” Kuck added. “He will continue to fight for his right to seek permanent residence in the United States through the immigration court. We look forward to the day when ICE will play fairly with all those who seek justice within our immigration system.”
They remain confident that a victory is imminent in his immigration hearing in two months.
Mixed Reactions On Twitter
In the wake of these new charges, some fans on Twitter have voiced their support for the rapper.
One user wrote, “The government always bringing up some old s**t smh.” Another wrote, “if ICE deports 21 savage I am simply leaving with him.”
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On the other hand, some other users showed disdain for the rapper and his music. “I wish all people who make bad music could be deported. In this case, seeming felonies would most likely get him removed,” the user tweeted. Another asked, “why is he still here? Deport him already,” a Twitter user wrote.
Currently, the Grammy Award winner is scheduled to perform on Sunday night at the New York’s Governors Ball, with fellow rapper, J.Cole.
