Jamaican dancehall entertainer Rygin King has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE), according to official detainee records, adding a new layer of uncertainty to his ongoing legal matters in the United States.
The artist, born Matthew Smith, was reportedly detained on March 23. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the reason for his detention, and neither the performer nor his representatives have issued a formal statement.
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The development comes as Rygin King continues to face an unresolved gun case in New York City. In 2024, he, his wife Ileene Parker-Smith, and four others were arrested in Queens after police reportedly discovered a loaded firearm during a traffic stop.
King has pleaded not guilty to six charges, including second-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm, a serious offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years for a first-time offender.
Court proceedings have been ongoing, with the case delayed by adjournments and suppression hearings. On February 27, 2026, the court continued the suppression hearing and reserved its decision, while prosecutors filed additional compliance documentation. The matter is scheduled to return to the Queens Supreme Criminal Court on March 27 before Justice Mary L. Bejarano.
His attorney, Marc B. Laykind, has previously expressed confidence that the charges will ultimately be dismissed.
Rygin King’s legal challenges come amid a period of personal recovery following a 2020 shooting in Westmoreland, Jamaica, in which he sustained multiple gunshot wounds and his manager’s wife, Sashalee Blackwood, was killed. The artist later relocated to the United States for medical treatment and rehabilitation, experiences that influenced his albums Therapy and Recovery.
He is among several Jamaican dancehall figures to face immigration-related issues in recent months. Chronic Law has reportedly been held at a Florida detention facility since January, while Squash was previously detained and later sentenced in a separate gun-related case.
As of now, it remains unclear how Rygin King’s immigration status may impact his upcoming court proceedings or his future in the United States.
