Featured Image Credit: Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images
Topics: TikTok, Donald Trump, Social Media, US News, Celebrity, Politics
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Madison Burgess
Topics: TikTok, Donald Trump, Social Media, US News, Celebrity, Politics
The world’s most followed TikTok star, Khaby Lame, has been making headlines in recent weeks for a reason that’s nothing to do with his social media videos.
The 25-year-old influencer was detained on June 6 by US immigration, amid Donald Trump’s crackdown on mass deporting immigrants using the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A spokesperson for ICE confirmed to People: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Serigne Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6, at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada for immigration violations."
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They added: "Lame entered the United States April 30 and overstayed the terms of his visa. Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the U.S."
But what does this all mean and why did it happen? Keep reading for everything you need to know on the case, including whether Lame could return to the US.
Khaby Lame, whose full name is Serigne Khabane Lame, is a social media influencer who boasts a huge following of 162.2m over on TikTok.
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The 25-year-old is best known on the popular app for his short comedy skits, which see him react to overly complicated 'life hack' videos - niche, but it works.
He soared to popularity during the Covid pandemic and has reached such success that he even made it onto the Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, which cited him as ‘turning memes into millions.'
Lame was born in Senegal, West Africa, but is an Italian citizen and has spent most of his life in Chivasso, his home town, which is close to Turin in the northern Piedmont region.
He was also named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2025, with a focus on the rights of African youth and children.
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Lame was detained at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and later ‘self-deported’ from the US after he overstayed his temporary visa, as reported by ICE.
The TikToker entered the States on April 30, before attending the Met Gala on May 5 in new York City, donning a very suave grey suit complete with a variety of different pocket watches.
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It’s unclear why he extended the trip but Lame was still in America this week, which saw him be detained amid the president’s immigration crackdown.
Conservative political activist Bo Loudon has claimed responsibility for informing ICE about Lame.
Speaking to Dylan Page in an exclusive TikTok interview, he said: "So he had worked with a few of my friends, so my business partners, they worked with him, and he was on one of their companies. Basically they just told me his visa was revoked three years ago, yet he's come back to the US 49 times on a revoked visa.
"He was making money in the United States, and many people were saying that he was signing contracts under different names and sending money back to Senegal. So he was like in the country, evading taxes and on a revoked visa for three years.
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"I just called some buddies in the administration, and I never seen anything happen so quick. They were like, we're gonna get right on this. They actually gave him till June 1 to self deport. But he didn't do that either."
It comes as workplaces all over the US have been raided, as the president seeks to mass deport immigrants from the US, using the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Chaos has erupted in Los Angeles following the policy, as the city continues to protest against it.
The 78-year-old Republican aims to launch the 'biggest deportation operation' in US history, but LA is making its opinions on doing so very clear.
In June, the White House increased its goal for ICE officials to make at least 3,000 arrests per day. And authorities aren't just looking in workplaces, but are also raiding restaurants and retail shops.
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Lame ‘self-deported,’ which just means leaving the country on your own initiative when you’re illegally present.
It allows you to leave the US at your own expense within a specific amount of time in order to avoid an actual deportation order.
However, there are two types of voluntary departure - pre-conclusion and post-conclusion.
It sounds confusing, but it just means that to receive pre-conclusion voluntary departure, you must ask for it at the beginning of your immigration case.
Post-conclusion voluntary departure is alternatively available at your final hearing, but it is more difficult to receive.
If you voluntarily leave, it also means there is no order of deportation in your immigration record, meaning you may be able to return the US much sooner.
There are serious consequences if you don’t voluntarily leave the US within the designated time, including fines and other penalties that could make it difficult for you to reenter the country in the future.
It’s unclear whether Lame will be able to return to the US after his self-deportation, but according to the available information, it seems that it could be a possibility.
Since he won’t have a criminal record, there are more ways for you to lawfully return to the country.
The Government website explains that if you take Voluntary Departure, you may be able to apply for a visa to return to the U.S. from your home country, or family members in the U.S. may be able to ask the government to allow you to enter the country legally.
Lame is yet to comment on the incident but has returned to social media since and seems to be in high spirits, despite everything going on.
He seemed to brush right over his recent run in with the law by sharing a super wholesome photograph of himself alongside Hollywood veteran Will Smith.