Social media icon Khaby Lame has departed the U.S. after being detained by ICE for overstaying his visa, following his June 6 arrest at a Las Vegas airport.
The Italian-Senegalese TikTok sensation was granted voluntary departure and remains focused on his global creative work despite the immigration setback.
Social media sensation Khaby Lame has officially left the United States after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over immigration-related issues. The 25-year-old TikTok icon, widely known for his hilarious silent reaction videos, was held on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to a statement released by ICE to “Mail Online”, Lame an Italian citizen originally born in Senegal was taken into custody for immigration violations after overstaying his visa. He had entered the U.S. on April 30, but reportedly failed to comply with the terms of his visa stay.
“Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, an Italian citizen, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to immigration violations,” the statement said. “He was later granted voluntary departure and has now left the United States.”
Lame, who rose to fame with his relatable and wordless comedic takes on overly complicated life hacks, boasts an enormous following online. Boasting over 162 million followers on TikTok under the username @khaby.lame, he continues to be one of the platform’s most prominent and adored content creators worldwide.
Khaby moved from Senegal to Italy at the age of one and was raised in Chivasso, near Turin. He officially became an Italian citizen in 2022, making his success story a significant symbol of integration and talent thriving in the digital age.
His exit from the U.S. comes amid a renewed crackdown on immigration under President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January. Since his return, ICE has ramped up operations across the country, resulting in a surge of arrests and deportations of individuals found to be in the U.S. illegally.
While Lame has not yet publicly commented on the incident, his team has assured fans that he remains focused on continuing his creative work from abroad. Despite the temporary setback, the TikTok superstar’s global influence remains strong, and fans around the world continue to show support as he navigates this unexpected chapter in his journey.
