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Buzzfeed News is reporting that 21 Savage turned himself in to Georgia authorities earlier this week after being made aware of a warrant out for his arrest on the basis of drug and weapons possession. Shortly after turning himself in — 12 minutes later, according to a report by Pitchfork — the rapper was released on bond. The rapper and his team were said to be unaware of the warrant until the day 21 turned himself in.
According to 21’s lawyers, the warrant was issued by a local magistrate judge at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “The warrant… is based upon events that transpired on the evening that ICE arrested [21 Savage] over 2 and one half years ago,” 21’s later Charles Kuck told Buzzfeed News. Kuck is referring to an incident in early February 2019 in which 21 was arrested by ICE officers over felony drug charges, a conviction that was alleged to be false by 21’s lawyers and which was later dropped. Since those charges were dropped, ICE has been pursuing 21’s deportation on the grounds of an overstayed visa dating back to when the rapper was 7 years old.
“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 continued in his statement. In a statement to Pitchfork, he added: “We are grateful for the efforts of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for quickly processing and releasing Mr. Joseph. 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.”
