Las Vegas, Nevada – Khaby Lame, the immensely popular TikTok personality known for his silent, expressive reactions, has left the United States following a detention by immigration agents in Las Vegas. The Senegalese-Italian influencer, whose legal name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was held by authorities for allegedly overstaying the terms of his visa.
A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Lame, 25, was detained last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport. He was subsequently permitted to leave the country under a voluntary departure agreement, meaning he avoided a formal deportation order. According to ICE, Lame had arrived in the U.S. on April 30 and had “overstayed the terms of his visa.” The Associated Press sought comment from Lame’s representatives but has not yet received a public statement from the influencer regarding the incident.
This development involving Khaby Lame unfolds amidst intensified immigration enforcement efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration. Recent weeks have seen an escalating crackdown on immigration, including highly publicized raids in Los Angeles that triggered days of protests against ICE operations, as the president continues to assert his executive authority on immigration matters.
The “voluntary departure” status granted to Lame is a crucial detail. This provision allows individuals facing removal from the U.S. to avoid having a deportation order on their immigration record. Such an order could significantly hinder or even prevent them from being allowed re-entry into the United States for up to a decade, making the voluntary departure a more favorable outcome for Lame’s future travel prospects.
Khaby Lame ascended to international fame during the global pandemic, capturing millions of followers with his unique brand of comedy. His videos, characterized by his silent reactions to overly complicated “life hacks,” resonated widely, establishing him as the world’s most followed personality on TikTok, boasting over 162 million followers on the platform alone.
Born in Senegal, Lame moved to Italy as an infant with his working-class parents and holds Italian citizenship. His meteoric rise from internet sensation has led to significant collaborations, including a multiyear partnership with designer brand Hugo Boss, signed in 2022. Just this January, he was also appointed as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, further solidifying his global influence. Prior to his detention, he was notably in New York City last month to attend the prestigious Met Gala, an event he participated in just days after arriving in the U.S.
