DEVELOPING: Rapper 21 Savage granted bond - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Rapper 21 Savage was granted a $100,000 bond during a closed hearing in the Atlanta Immigration Court Tuesday and will be released from immigration detention Wednesday, according to his attorney.

The rapper, whose real name is She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was taken into custody earlier this month. Federal immigration officials say he’s a U.K. citizen who overstayed his visa.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement opposed Savage’s release on bond, according to Charles Kuck, one of his attorneys. His deportation case is still pending in the Atlanta Immigration Court and may not be resolved for many months, Kuck added.

Following the hearing, Kuck released a statement:

“For the past nine long days, we, on behalf of She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, known to the world as 21 Savage, have been speaking with ICE to both clarify his actual legal standing, his eligibility for bond, and provide evidence of his extraordinary contributions to his community and society.

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In the last 24 hours, in the wake of the Grammy Awards at which he was scheduled to attend and perform, we received notice that She’yaa was granted an expedited hearing.

Today, 21 Savage was granted a release on bond. He won his freedom.

21 Savage asked us to send a special message to his fans and supporters — he says that while he wasn’t present at the Grammy Awards, he was there in spirit and is grateful for the support from around the world and is, more than ever, ready to be with his loved ones and continue making music that brings people together.”

An ICE spokesman declined to comment on Savage’s case. But his agency issued a short statement in response to a group of Savage’s supporters who rallied outside of the Immigration Court building Tuesday and called for ICE’s abolition.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fully respects the Constitutional rights of all persons to peacefully express their opinions,” ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said. “That said, ICE remains committed to performing its immigration enforcement mission consistent with federal law and agency policy.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will be updating this story. Check for more later.

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