Controversial dancehall selector, Oneil Ricardo Thomas, popularly known as Foota Hype, has been released from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility where he was detained since December of last year.
News of the development was confirmed by artiste manager and Foota Hype’s confidante Kerry Ann Townsend, who in an interview , said the selector was ‘grateful’.
“Foota said he will do media next week. He just jumped out, so he is going to relax and ting. We will know the terms of his release when we visit the attorney’s office on Monday,” said Townsend.
Hype also made a post on his Instagram page which he captioned “Time is the master and the time is now”.
The comment was met with a flood of support and outpouring of joy from his dancehall peers and fans.
Thomas was detained in December, on arrival at Port Everglades Seaport aboard the ship, Independence of the Seas, from Falmouth, Jamaica where he had been attending the Jamrock cruise. Foota Hype was detained for further review of his travel documents and admissibility status. He had been incarcerated since that time.
Townsend, following that development, said she made a plea to Jamaicans to lobby for his release given the infiltration of COVID-19 in prison populations in the US.
Last week, attorney of the selector also raised similar concerns and also made an application for him to be released based on his medical status as a diabetic, which makes him particularly vulnerable during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
