Black Lives Matter Starts Petition Against 21 Savage's Deportation

Black Lives Matter co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, has launched an online petition in an attempt to stop 21 Savage's possible deportation.

The 26-year-old rapper was arrested and detained in Atlanta on Sunday(Feb. 3) by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE claimed 21, born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, is living in the U.S. with an expired temporary visa after migrating from the U.K. in 2005.

The petition comes as many in support of the artist rally behind the #Free21Savage hashtag.

READ: Report: ICE Arrest 21 Savage in Atlanta Raid, Claim He's Actually from The UK

"The circumstances of Mr. Abraham-Joseph's detention stand as a testament to the consistent and historically under-reported harassment and targeting of Black immigrants," the petition's description reads. "The US' violent history of criminalizing Blackness intersects with its deadly legacy of detaining and deporting Black and Brown immigrants. This needs to stop today!" At the time of publication, the petition has more than 12,000 signatures. in just a few hours.  BLM teamed up with a number of other civil rights organizations for the campaign, including Undocublack, Color of Change and Define American."

READ: DJ BJ Refutes Reports That 21 Savage’s ICE Detention Was Instigated by Arrest of Affiliate Young Nudy

Charles H. Kluc, one of 21's legal reps released a statement, saying the arrest was "based upon incorrect information about prior criminal charges and [ICE is] now refusing to release him on bond of any amount, despite the fact that he has a pending U-Visa application (as the victim of crime) with USCIS, and that he has relief from removal available to him."

Kluc also charges the arrest and detaining is a "civil law violation."

21 remains in the custody of ICE.

Read and sign Black Lives Matter's petition here.