TikTok Sensation Khaby Lame Leaves the United States After Immigration Arrest
Khaby Lame, the most followed TikToker globally, departs the U.S. following a brief detention by immigration authorities for exceeding his visa duration.
Khaby Lame, a Senegalese-Italian influencer with 162.2 million followers on TikTok, exited the United States shortly after being briefly detained by U.S. immigration authorities due to a visa violation.
According to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lame, aged 25, was taken into custody on June 6, 2025, at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, for overstaying his visa following his entry on April 30.
ICE confirmed that Lame was granted a 'voluntary departure' and subsequently left the country.
As of Saturday afternoon, he had not publicly commented on the incident.
The tightening of immigration controls in the U.S. has intensified since the return to power of President Donald Trump in January.
His administration has committed to strict immigration enforcement measures, resulting in increased detentions and deportations.
Khaby Lame gained widespread acclaim through his unique TikTok videos, which satirize convoluted online tutorials and advice, utilizing a signature gesture of raised palms and an expressive smile.
His creative approach to content creation emerged in the wake of losing his factory job in March 2020, leading to a significant rise in his online popularity.
Lame was appointed as a UNICEF ambassador in late January and has been a prominent figure in social media, earning an estimated $16.5 million from brand partnerships between June 2022 and September 2023, as reported by financial analyses.
His rapid ascent in the digital landscape exemplifies the significant commercial opportunities available to social media influencers today.
According to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lame, aged 25, was taken into custody on June 6, 2025, at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, for overstaying his visa following his entry on April 30.
ICE confirmed that Lame was granted a 'voluntary departure' and subsequently left the country.
As of Saturday afternoon, he had not publicly commented on the incident.
The tightening of immigration controls in the U.S. has intensified since the return to power of President Donald Trump in January.
His administration has committed to strict immigration enforcement measures, resulting in increased detentions and deportations.
Khaby Lame gained widespread acclaim through his unique TikTok videos, which satirize convoluted online tutorials and advice, utilizing a signature gesture of raised palms and an expressive smile.
His creative approach to content creation emerged in the wake of losing his factory job in March 2020, leading to a significant rise in his online popularity.
Lame was appointed as a UNICEF ambassador in late January and has been a prominent figure in social media, earning an estimated $16.5 million from brand partnerships between June 2022 and September 2023, as reported by financial analyses.
His rapid ascent in the digital landscape exemplifies the significant commercial opportunities available to social media influencers today.