21 Savage is being detained, but he’s not a threat – except to white supremacy | Rashad Robinson and Jose
By targeting the rapper who dared to criticise the US immigration policies, officials have proven their tactics are unrelated to border security
Rapper 21 Savage was scheduled to perform at the Grammys on Sunday night, where he was also nominated in several categories. The Atlanta-based performer, who is known offstage as Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, wasn’t there because he’s being held without bail by US immigration officials for overstaying a visa over a decade ago.
Holding Bin Abraham-Joseph prisoner indefinitely for a visa violation doesn’t make sense – he does not pose a flight risk, or a threat to the community – unless you confront the painful reality that many of us who work as advocates for justice have been saying now for some time. It doesn’t matter if you are black, Asian or Latinx, or if a government official is an unjust district attorney or an out-of-control Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agent – if you are a person of color, they will find a way to lock you up.