The family of a Savannah State University (SSU) student-athlete allegedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, July 3, is asking for support from the community.According to a social media post from One SSU, the advocacy organization that supports Savannah State students, Johan Sandoval is an international student from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is currently on a full athletic scholarship at SSU where he earned All-SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) honors in 2025 and 2026. Johan also represented SSU in the ‘HBCU Baseball All-Star Game’ in Kannapolis, North Carolina last month, and was named Most Valuable Player.The Sandoval Rodriguez family shared via GoFundMe that they are worried for Sandoval’s future since being detained. They are now asking for the community’s help paying for legal representation, any possible immigration bond, other court fees and basic necessities while his case is pending.“Johan is more than a student-athlete,” his sister, Melissa, wrote. “He is a son, a brother, a mentor and someone who has dedicated himself to becoming the first generation in our family to achieve many of his dreams through higher education.”According to One SSU, “Dr. Whirl is aware and engaged, and he is actively working with the student’s family and immigration attorney to ensure a safe release.”
