The National Immigration Law Center has honored 21 Savage with its highest honor, the Courageous Luminaries Award. He received the honor at an event hosted by the organization on Thursday. Immediately after receiving the award, the Atlanta artist used the platform to advocate for the children of immigrants earning immediate citizenship.
21 Savage stated, “When you’re a child, you don’t know what’s going on. Now, you grow up and got to figure it out.”
He added, “Can’t get a job. Can’t get a license. I’m one of the lucky ones who became successful. It’s a lot of people who can’t.”
The Atlanta native knows all too well about the plight of being the child of immigrant parents. He moved from London to Atlanta at the age of 7 with his family. In 2006, his visa expired while he applied for a U-Visa. The federal government’s immigration department was made aware of his status in 2017, but neglected to resolve the situation until 2019. In February, the award winning musician was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for ten days until he was released pending trial.
During his acceptance speech, he also spoke to his own experience with immigration in the United States.
He said, “It’s not like I was 30, woke up and moved over here. I’ve been here since I was like 7 or 8, probably younger than that. I didn’t know anything about visas and all that. I just knew we were moving to a new place.”
21 Savage’s immigration status is still pending as he waits for trial.
