MWE Correspondent
Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok creator, has departed the United States after being briefly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials over an alleged visa violation.
Lame, born Serigne Khabane Lame in Dakar, Senegal, and raised in Italy, arrived in the U.S. on April 30 and made an appearance at the Met Gala in New York City in early May. However, his visit took a sudden turn on June 6 when he was stopped at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas while attempting to board an international flight.
Authorities claimed Lame had overstayed the 90-day allowance under the Visa Waiver Program, which permits citizens of participating countries—including Italy—to enter the United States for tourism or business without a visa.
To avoid receiving a formal deportation order, Lame was granted voluntary departure, an option under U.S. immigration law that allows travelers to leave the country at their own expense without incurring the harsh penalties associated with deportation. This means he may still be eligible to return to the U.S. in the future.
The 25-year-old social media phenomenon has not made any public statement about his detention. However, speculation swirled after a far-right influencer, Bo Loudon, who claims to be a close associate of Barron Trump, posted online that he had tipped off authorities about Lame’s alleged overstay and supposed tax irregularities. These claims remain unverified, and no formal charges have been brought.
Also Read; Russia Strikes Ukraine’s Power Plant Amid Winter
The incident arrives at a time of intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, whose administration has ramped up ICE raids and visa scrutiny, especially in cities like Los Angeles and Miami. Trump’s policy stance on immigration continues to provoke heated national debate as the 2024 presidential term unfolds.
Lame’s global rise to fame came during the COVID-19 pandemic when he began posting reaction videos on TikTok that poked fun at overly complicated “life hack” videos. Without ever saying a word, his facial expressions and gestures connected with audiences worldwide. His most viral clips helped him surpass 162 million followers on TikTok, making him the platform’s most-followed creator.
Beyond TikTok, Lame has become a cultural ambassador. He has worked with major brands like Hugo Boss, appeared at Cannes Film Festival, and in 2022, was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He also earned Italian citizenship in 2022, a move that was celebrated widely in Italy and beyond.
He previously lived in Chivasso, a small town near Turin, where he worked in a factory before losing his job during the pandemic. That setback became the launchpad for his unexpected career in content creation.
