Hip-Hop Community Calls On President Bush To Stop Slick Rick's Deportation
Fri Dec 6, 2:57 PM ET
(12/06/02, 3 p.m. ET) - Veteran rapper Slick Rick has been incarcerated and facing deportation for more than six months at the Immigration And Naturalization Service (INS) detention center in Bradenton, Florida, and his lawyers filed an emergency stay of deportation motion this week in hopes of keeping the rapper in the United States. The INS ruled November 27 that the rapper should be deported back to his native England. The INS now has 14 days to respond.
Several of Slick Rick's colleagues have stepped up in his time of need, including Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, who have mobilized the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network to call on President Bush (news - web sites) to issue an executive order overturning the deportation ruling.
Simmons and Chavis have also been working closely with Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) to call for a fair hearing on the case. Supporters and fans have been asked to call the White House directly at (202) 456-1111 to voice their concern about the INS's decision.
Simmons issued the following statement on December 5, "We in the hip-hop community stand in resolute solidarity today with Slick Rick and his family. We want the federal government to bring justice to this case by releasing Slick Rick."
Slick Rick's wife Mandy Arragones also issued a statement, saying, "My husband is being mistreated by the U.S. government. I personally feel that we have been abused as a result of six months of unfair imprisonment. And now, the INS is taking imminent steps to deport my husband without the benefit of a court hearing."
Slick Rick, who was born in London, was arrested on June 1, 2002, after attempting to return to the United States following a performance on a cruise hosted by popular radio host Tom Joyner. The rapper was found guilty of second-degree attempted murder in 1991 for shooting his cousin and he served five years and 12 days in prison. U.S. Federal law states that any non-citizen who serves more than five years in prison must be deported.
Slick Rick won an initial bout with the INS in 1995, which allowed him to stay in the country upon his release from prison. However, the INS overturned that decision in 1997 and, according to the rapper's lawyer, he was never notified of the new ruling.
--Yves Erwin Salomon, New York
Fri Dec 6, 2:57 PM ET
(12/06/02, 3 p.m. ET) - Veteran rapper Slick Rick has been incarcerated and facing deportation for more than six months at the Immigration And Naturalization Service (INS) detention center in Bradenton, Florida, and his lawyers filed an emergency stay of deportation motion this week in hopes of keeping the rapper in the United States. The INS ruled November 27 that the rapper should be deported back to his native England. The INS now has 14 days to respond.
Several of Slick Rick's colleagues have stepped up in his time of need, including Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, who have mobilized the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network to call on President Bush (news - web sites) to issue an executive order overturning the deportation ruling.
Simmons and Chavis have also been working closely with Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) to call for a fair hearing on the case. Supporters and fans have been asked to call the White House directly at (202) 456-1111 to voice their concern about the INS's decision.
Simmons issued the following statement on December 5, "We in the hip-hop community stand in resolute solidarity today with Slick Rick and his family. We want the federal government to bring justice to this case by releasing Slick Rick."
Slick Rick's wife Mandy Arragones also issued a statement, saying, "My husband is being mistreated by the U.S. government. I personally feel that we have been abused as a result of six months of unfair imprisonment. And now, the INS is taking imminent steps to deport my husband without the benefit of a court hearing."
Slick Rick, who was born in London, was arrested on June 1, 2002, after attempting to return to the United States following a performance on a cruise hosted by popular radio host Tom Joyner. The rapper was found guilty of second-degree attempted murder in 1991 for shooting his cousin and he served five years and 12 days in prison. U.S. Federal law states that any non-citizen who serves more than five years in prison must be deported.
Slick Rick won an initial bout with the INS in 1995, which allowed him to stay in the country upon his release from prison. However, the INS overturned that decision in 1997 and, according to the rapper's lawyer, he was never notified of the new ruling.
--Yves Erwin Salomon, New York
