Rapper 21 Savage is locked in an immigration battle with US authorities after they found out he was actually born in the UK and had overstayed his American visa by more than a decade.
It's an incredibly heated situation, with the performer's supporters saying it's not right for him to be deported.
Well, 21 Savage, real name She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, has just received help from one of the biggest names in his industry: Jay-Z.
According to TMZ, Jay has hired lawyers to help the 'Bank Account' rapper in his fight against US authorities. He's called the situation 'an absolute travesty'.
"In addition to being a successful recording artist, 21 deserves to be reunited with his children immediately," Jay reportedly said to the entertainment site.
The lawyer hired is Alex Spiro, who's represented Jay-Z, Mick Jagger, Philip Seymour Hoffman and a slew of athletes.
He's told TMZ: "We are not going to stop until he is released, bonded out or in front of a judge.
"What we have here is someone who overstayed their visa with an application pending for 4 years - not a convicted criminal that needs to be detained and removed but, by all accounts a wonderful person, father, and entertainer who has a marijuana offense which was vacated and sealed."
A statement from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) said that 21 Savage was 'unlawfully present in the US' and a 'United Kingdom national'.
In a statement of his own, Abraham-Joseph has now confirmed that he is from the UK, but claims that the ICE statement contains 'incorrect information'.
Speaking via his representatives, Savage stated that he arrived in the USA when he was seven years old, but 'through no fault of his own' his legal status to remain in the USA expired in 2006. He also claims he didn't realise this until 2017, when he applied for a new one.
The statement reads: "Mr. Abraham-Joseph has three U.S. Citizen children, a lawful permanent resident mother and four siblings that are either US Citizens or lawful permanent residents. He has exceptionally strong ties in the United States, having lived here since he was in the first grade.
"Because of his length of residence in the United States and his immediate relatives, Mr. Abraham-Joseph is eligible to seek Cancellation of Removal from an Immigration Judge."
"Mr. Abraham-Joseph was placed into deportation proceedings AFTER his arrest, he was not in deportation proceedings prior to this detention by ICE. DHS has known his address since the filing of a U visa application in 2017.
"He has never hidden from DHS or any of its agencies. Mr. Abraham-Joseph is not subject to mandatory detention under federal law and is eligible for bond. By statute, bond should be granted by ICE when there is no flight risk or a danger to the community.
"We are unaware of why ICE apparently targeted Mr. Abraham-Joseph, but we will do everything possible to legally seek his release and pursue his available relief in immigration court."
Meanwhile, Congressman Hank Johnson revealed a letter he sent to the immigration judge speaking of Abraham-Joseph's community spirit. He said Savage gives back to the community in Atlanta and supports the 'betterment of our youth'.
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