21 Savage is an Illegal Immigrant

     Earlier today, the massively successful Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage (pictured here) was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

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      He and several other associates were taken into state custody after an ICE sting operation. Representatives from the agency have claimed that the artist is a British national who is in the United States illegally. 21 Savage, according to officials, came to the US in 2005 on a one-year visa, and failed to go back to the UK after it expired. He was just 12 years old when he took up residence in the US. While a judge is still considering his case, there is a very strong likelihood the rapper may be deported back to Britain. This revelation shocked 21 Savage's many fans, as the truth of his upbringing in the UK seemed to contradict his public identity as an Atlanta native and a sort of cultural ambassador for the city, as evidenced by tweets such as this: 


     Personally, I find this situation interesting as the story of this single, very visible figure reflects several facets of immigration in the US. The complete inability of government agencies to effectively and consistently enforce immigration law is demonstrated by the amount of time 21 Savage spent not only as a resident of this country, but also as one of its most visible and relevant musicians. Despite literally being taken into federal custody in 2014 on drug charges and processed through our legal and prison systems, the federal government had essentially no idea about his immigration status until now. It seems ICE really doesn't have a handle on who exactly the illegal immigrants are, and this shows it. 
     Further, the tale of 21 Savage mirrors that of many other deportees, just in a more noticeable way. Despite initially coming here illegally, Mr. Savage has been here for his entire adult existence, has established a life, and contributes to the United States culturally and economically. He can be considered American in every sense except legal. Just as his deportation would leave a hole in our music landscape, so too does the deportation of many hard-working undocumented immigrants harm the people who have come to know and depend on them. The removal of people who are fully integrated into this country and have been for years causes problems, and the exiling of entrepreneur, philanthropist, artist, and American cultural touchstone 21 Savage represents a great loss to this country.

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