21 Savage's Manager Shares Update, Thanks Supporters
21 Savage remains in federal immigration custody as he faces potential deportation for overstaying his visa.
While his peers and fans rally for his release, his co-manager Stone Mound Meezy has provided an update on the “a lot” rapper. “Just got off phone wit Savage,” he tweeted and later deleted. “He is in lockdown for 23hrs of the day no tv or any communication besides our 10 min phone calls … everything I’ve told him that has been happening made him happy & makes this time fly by thank y’all for the support.”
21 Savage's manager let's us know his current situation ICE custody.#hiphop pic.twitter.com/mxB19DwCl6
— BlackRoomMedia (@BlackRoomMedia1) February 5, 2019
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested the 26-year-old MC in Atlanta on Sunday (Feb. 3), saying he is actually an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national” who came to the U.S. on a visa in July 2005. His visa expired a year later and he has been living illegally ever since.
His birth certificate reveals that he was born Shéyaa bin Abraham on October 22, 1992 at Newham Hospital, in east London, and his parents, Heather Joseph and Kevin Emmons, are also British. He lived in the U.K. for 12 years until being taken to Atlanta by his mother, who voiced support for her son on social media.
“It’s a damn shame when we live in a world where people thrive off and feed negative energy..laugh at others who are going through real life challenges, fighting for their lives & freedom…sick of it!” she wrote on Instagram Stories. “However, in the end people will see! This too shall come to pass Free 21 Savage.”
The Black Lives Matter Global Network has organized a petition demanding that Savage’s potential deportation be stopped. As of a press time, it has been signed by over 140,000 people.
“There are around 4.2 Million Black immigrants in the U.S. – 619,000 are undocumented. Mr. Abraham-Joseph has been in the United States since he was a young child. Atlanta is his home,” reads the petition. “He has no current or prior criminal convictions and he is beloved by his friends, fans and family. It is shameful that he and so many Black immigrants are separated from their families on a daily basis as part of the US’s heartless and racist immigration policies.”
Others including Meek Mill, Offset, and Cardi B have also joined the #Free21Savage movement. “We will read and educate ourselves on this situation and we will take action!” wrote the “Bodak Yellow” rapper. “21 did not come here illegally and was not caught doing anything illegal or doing any mischief! in fact he have change his whole life around and as ya can see he’s been very positive in his actions and music.”