Popular TikTok personality Khaby Lame was briefly detained by U.S. immigration officials on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas due to an alleged visa overstay.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Lame, whose full name is Seringe Khabane Lame and who holds Italian citizenship, was taken into custody for immigration-related reasons. He had entered the United States on April 30 and reportedly remained beyond the allowed timeframe.
ICE stated that Lame was granted voluntary departure the same day and has since left the country.
His detention occurred during a period of intensified immigration crackdowns under former President Donald Trump’s second term, with ICE recently increasing nationwide operations that have led to mass arrests. Protests have broken out in cities like Los Angeles, where tensions between immigration officials and demonstrators have escalated. President Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to assist in enforcement efforts.
Khaby Lame, who also serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, gained worldwide fame for his silent and comedic TikTok videos that poke fun at overly complicated “life hacks.” Born in Senegal and raised in Italy, he became an internet star during the COVID-19 pandemic after losing his factory job.
With more than 162 million TikTok followers and over 80 million on Instagram, Lame has built a successful brand, partnering with top companies like Hugo Boss, Sony Pictures, and Walmart. Forbes lists him among the highest-paid Black content creators, estimating his annual income at around $20 million.
