21 Savage is a free man. The rapper has been released on bond pending a deportation hearing.
In a statement, his legal team announced that Savage had been granted an expedited hearing following Sunday’s Grammys. “In the last 24 hours, in the wake of the Grammy Awards at which he was scheduled to attend and perform, we received notice that She’yaa was granted an expedited hearing,” said his lawyers. “Today, 21 Savage was granted a release on bond. He won his freedom.”
They also thanked his supporters. “21 Savage asked us to send a special message to his fans and supporters—he says that while he wasn’t present at the Grammy Awards, he was there in spirit and is grateful for the support from around the world and is more than ever, ready to be with his loved ones and continue making music that brings people together.”
Savage, born She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Feb. 3 in Atlanta for overstaying his visa. He was in the process of attempting to get a U-Visa.
In the wake of his arrest, protestors gathered outside Atlanta Immigration Court where they delivered a petition with more 450,000 signatures demanding his immediate release. JAY-Z also joined the #Free21Savage movement by hiring a legal team to assist in his immigration case. “The arrest and detention of 21 Savage is an absolute travesty, his U visa petition has been pending for 4 years,” said the Roc Nation boss.
It’s unclear why ICE held 21 for so long. According to TMZ, he should have been released on bond earlier because he was neither a flight risk or a danger to his community.
His peers have also voiced their support. Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, SZA, J. Cole, and more have shown solidarity with Savage and others detained by ICE as part of a video for Mic.