Khaby Lame, Senegalese-Italian TikTok star, departs US following detention by ICE in Las Vegas

Khaby Lame, widely known as the most popular figure on TikTok with millions of followers, has departed from the United States after being held by immigration authorities in Las Vegas due to allegedly exceeding his visa stay.

The influencer, of Senegalese-Italian descent and legally named Seringe Khabane Lame, was detained at Harry Reid International Airport on Friday. However, he was permitted to exit the country without facing immediate deportation, as confirmed by a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Lame entered the U.S. on April 30 but exceeded the duration allowed by his visa, as stated by the ICE representative. Despite efforts to reach out for a response from Lame through his Instagram account, there has been no public statement made by him regarding his detention.

His detainment and voluntary departure from the U.S. comes amid President Donald Trump’s escalating crackdown on immigration, including raids in Los Angeles that sparked days of protests against ICE, as the president tests the bounds of his executive authority.

A voluntary departure – which was granted to Lame – allows those facing removal from the U.S. to avoid a deportation order on their immigration record, which could prevent them from being allowed back into the U.S. for up to a decade.

The 25-year-old rose to international fame during the pandemic without ever saying a word in his videos, which would show him reacting to absurdly complicated “life hacks.” He has over 162 million followers on TikTok alone.

The Senegal-born influencer moved to Italy when he was an infant with his working class parents and has Italian citizenship.

His internet fame quickly evolved. He signed a multi-year partnership with designer brand Hugo Boss in 2022. In January, he was appointed as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

Last month, he attended the Met Gala in New York City, days after arriving in the U.S.