Odds Say Rapper 21 Savage Will Be Deported from the US
By Robert Duff in Entertainment
Updated: April 1, 2020 at 2:16 pm EDTPublished:
- ICE agents last week arrested rapper 21 Savage, accusing him of being in the US illegally
- He is charged with entering the US in 2005 from Britain and staying past the expiration of his visa
- Online sportsbooks are offering odds on whether 21 Savage will be deported
It would appear that rapper 21 Savage is not what he’s purported himself to be. The performer, whose real name is She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested in Atlanta and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last week, charged with being illegally in the United States.
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 claims that Savage entered the USA in 2005 as a minor with his parents from Britain and never returned home following the expiration of his visa.
The arrest of a well-known celebrity has brought this issue instant attention. There’s a petition being circulated by Black Lives Matter demanding the release of 21 Savage.
A petition created by Black Lives Matter organizers has over 130,000 signatures following the rapper's arrest by ICE agents last weekend.https://t.co/OKePMVgMx8
— NOISEY (@NoiseyMusic) February 5, 2019
Celebrities have also entered the fray in support of the rapper. Meek Mill, Demi Lovato, Cardi B, and Iggy Azalea are among those voicing their concern over the arrest of 21 Savage.
From Cardi B, to T.I., artists rally behind 21 Savage after he was detained by ICE. https://t.co/79Vr5S6LtS pic.twitter.com/RKKzciOWrg
— ABC News (@ABC) February 4, 2019
Right-wing pundits who support America’s toughening of its immigration laws have been equally vocal in their support of the actions of ICE.
I got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight ICE agents ready to deport ya. https://t.co/tivP1Ljj8V
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) February 3, 2019
The sportsbooks are also weighing in on the outcome of this hot-button issue. Online sportsbooks are offering a prop bet on whether 21 Savage will be deported.
Odds 21 Savage Will Be Deported from the US
| Will 21 Savage Be Deported from the US? | Odds (02/05/19) |
|---|---|
| Yes | -270 |
| No | +180 |
According to ICE figures, the organization arrested 195,000 people in 2018, an increase of 11% from its 2017 figures. ICE reported that 256,085 people were deported last year, up 13% from 2017.
He’s Nothing But a Dreamer
That he entered the country with his parents at the age of 12 should have qualified 21 Savage under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
The program, instituted by former US President Barack Obama, protects almost 800,000 young men and women who were brought into the US illegally as children from deportation. DACA people are called dreamers.
ICE refusing to release rapper 21 Savage, lawyer says https://t.co/3DZxIgVgpx pic.twitter.com/oVQGbjMxHB
— The Hill (@thehill) February 5, 2019
President Donald Trump sought to cancel DACA, but that is being challenged in court. Trump has sought to use DACA as leverage to gain funding for his border wall.
Individuals convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanors, or a series of misdemeanors aren’t eligible for DACA. Likewise, to qualify for DACA, they must have graduated high school, completed their GED certificate, or have been honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces.
JUST IN: 21 Savage's co-manager gives update, says rapper's on lockdown 23 hours a dayhttps://t.co/UMg36lDbP1
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) February 5, 2019
Reportedly, 21 Savage dropped out of high school and was convicted on drug charges in 2014, making him ineligible for DACA.
Savage 21 Says He’s Trying
His lawyers acknowledge that Savage 21 overstayed his legal welcome, but as a minor, insist it was through no fault of his own. They indicate that he’s been pursuing a visa that would gain him legal status in the US.
Update on "21 Savage" case pic.twitter.com/Mkf32iDgc0
— Kuck Baxter (@KuckBaxter) February 5, 2019
However, the odds look to be stacked against him. Statistically, the jurisdiction including Atlanta shows one of the highest denial rates in the country.
At this juncture, based on the evidence in play, deportation looks like the best bet.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
