TikTok superstar Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed content creator on the platform, has left the United States after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over an alleged visa overstay.
The 25-year-old Senegalese-Italian influencer was reportedly taken into custody at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on June 6. ICE officials stated that Lame had entered the U.S. on April 30 but had violated the terms of his visa during his stay.
Lame was granted voluntary departure, a legal provision that allows individuals to exit the U.S. without a formal deportation order on their record. This move helps preserve their chances of returning in the future. Deportation orders, by contrast, can bar reentry for up to 10 years.
Shortly after the incident, Lame shared a photo on his Instagram Story, tagging his location as São Paulo, Brazil, signaling his departure from the U.S.
His detainment comes amid renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement in the country, as former President Donald Trump has returned to office and reignited his administration’s hardline stance on immigration.
Khaby Lame rose to fame during the pandemic by posting silent, comedic videos that poke fun at overly complex “life hacks” by demonstrating simpler solutions, punctuated by his now-iconic deadpan expressions. Since June 2022, he has held the title of the most-followed person on TikTok, amassing over 162 million followers. He also boasts 80 million followers on Instagram and 12.5 million subscribers on YouTube.
So far, Lame has not publicly commented on the incident, but his fans around the world continue to show support as he navigates the fallout.
