21 Savage’s four-year immigration saga has come to a happy conclusion as the rapper revealed he is now a “lawful permanent resident” of the U.S. and, with his status no longer in question, he is allowed to visit to his birth nation of England.
In an Instagram post soundtracked by Skylar Grey’s “Coming Home,” 21 Savage declared “London, I’m comin home,” hinting at his first-ever concert in the U.K. (In the comments, Drake — who enlisted 21 Savage for the U.S. leg of the It’s All a Blur tour, corrected him, saying “We’re,” suggesting his Her Loss partner will also be involved.)
Back in February 2019, 21 Savage was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Atlanta, with the agency revealing that the rapper is actually from the United Kingdom and overstayed his visa after coming to America as a teenager.
Following a weeklong detainment in an ICE detention center, the rapper born She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph was released and allowed to remain in America while his immigration was sorted out. 21 Savage was allowed to tour the U.S. — including as special guest on Drake’s trek — but was unable to perform outside America, including the Canadian leg of the It’s All a Blur Tour.
“She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph followed all applicable Immigration laws since his initial detention by ICE,” 21 Savage’s immigration lawyer Charles H. Kuck said in a statement. “His immigration court proceedings have now been terminated and he is a lawful permanent resident of the United States with the freedom to travel internationally.”
Although his traveling restrictions were lifted, 21 Savage did not perform Friday night during Drake’s first of two concerts in his native Toronto, as Lil Baby filled in. If 21 Savage performs tonight in Toronto, it would mark his first-ever international concert as he hasn’t left America in 21 years.
Drake previously hinted as the end of 21 Savage’s immigration issues on the For All the Dogs track “8 AM in Charlotte“: “Savage got a green card straight out of the consulate/Where I go, you go, brother, we Yugoslavian.”