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By Janelle Griffith
Rapper 21 Savage was arrested early Sunday morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who say he is from the United Kingdom and overstayed his visa, according a statement from the agency.
The rapper, whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph and who says he is from Atlanta, was taken into custody in a “targeted operation,” ICE spokesman Bryan Cox told NBC News in a statement.
“Mr. Abraham-Joseph was taken into ICE custody as he is unlawfully present in the U.S. and also a convicted felon,” Cox said.
Abraham-Joseph, 26, has been placed into removal proceedings, before the federal immigration courts, the statement added.
“ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions,” Cox said.
Abraham-Joseph is an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national” who came to the U.S. in July 2005 on a visa that expired a year later, Cox said.
He was convicted of felony drug charges in 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia. Abraham-Joseph performed in Atlanta as recently as Thursday in the Super Bowl Music Fest at State Farm Arena.