Rapper Slick Rick was issued an official pardon by New York Governor David A. Paterson today (May 23), in a final attempt to prevent the pioneering rapper from being deported to the United Kingdom. The 43-year-old rapper has been locked in a battle in Federal Immigration Court fighting deportation, due to a 1991 conviction on two counts of attempted murder and weapons offenses. Slick Rick, born Ricky Walters, is facing deportation due to a federal statute that requires a lawful resident alien to be removed from the country upon conviction of an aggravated felony or a weapon offense. In some cases, removal can be avoided with a Governor’s pardon, but for a weapons offense, a non-citizen must still seek discretionary relief from deportation from the Federal Immigration Court. “Mr. Walters has fully served the sentence imposed upon him for his convictions, had an exemplary disciplinary record while in prison and on parole, and has been living without incident in the community for more than 10 years,” said Governor Paterson. “I urge federal immigration officials to once again grant Mr. Walters relief from deportation...
Blak Mic Says - "Well thank god...we dont want one of hip-hop's pioneers to be deportated to another country, not a good look."
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