ICE Detains TikTok Star Khaby Lame, Orders Him to Leave the United States

U.S. immigration officials recently detained Khaby Lame, a well-known TikTok personality, citing that he had overstayed his visa. Lame, whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame, entered the United States on April 30.

Following his detention at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, he was granted “voluntary departure” and instructed to leave the country. While Lame has not publicly acknowledged the incident, he has remained active on social media in the days since his reported departure from the U.S., recently posting to his Instagram story from Brazil.

In response to the immigration report, Sharks Celebrities Mgmt., the agency representing Lame, disputed the claims and suggested that he did not visit the U.S. this month. They also stated that the name mentioned in the reports is not his actual birth name.

There is ambiguity surrounding Lame’s last visit to the United States; however, it is known that he attended the Met Gala in May. The 25-year-old has amassed a significant following on TikTok, totaling 162.2 million followers, largely during the pandemic after he lost his job in a factory in Italy.

He is recognized for his humorous content and is also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. This incident occurs against the backdrop of intensified immigration crackdowns by the Trump administration, which has involved increased scrutiny of travelers at borders and airports.

Many social media users have shared their negative experiences with immigration officials, reflecting widespread apprehensions about travel during this heightened vigilance. Lame’s case marks a high-profile example of the ongoing issues around immigration enforcement, following similar detentions of other prominent figures in recent months.