Las Vegas: Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok star, has left the United States after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly overstaying his visa. The 25-year-old Senegalese-Italian influencer, whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was held at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas last Friday.
According to an ICE spokesperson, Lame was granted a voluntary departure, allowing him to leave the country without a formal deportation order, which could have barred him from reentry for up to 10 years.
Lame arrived in the U.S. on April 30 and attended high-profile events, including the Met Gala. He has not publicly commented on the incident. Known for his silent, comedic reactions to overly complicated life hacks, Lame skyrocketed to fame during the pandemic and now boasts over 162 million TikTok followers.
His success led to brand deals with Hugo Boss and a UNICEF goodwill ambassador appointment. His detainment comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, including recent ICE raids in Los Angeles that have sparked widespread protests.
Lame, born in Senegal and raised in Italy, holds Italian citizenship and has since returned to Europe.
