TikTok star Khaby Lame detained at Vegas Airport for visa overstay

Social media sensation Khaby Lame was briefly detained by U.S. immigration authorities at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 6, after allegedly overstaying his visa.

According to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shared with Men’s Journal, the 25-year-old Italian national, whose full name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was taken into custody for immigration violations.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, for immigration violations,” ICE said in the statement.

Lame had entered the U.S. on April 30 and reportedly exceeded the permitted duration of his visit. He was released the same day after being granted voluntary departure and has since exited the United States.

“Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the U.S.,” the agency confirmed.

His brief detention comes amid heightened immigration enforcement efforts during former President Donald Trump’s second term in office. In recent days, ICE has ramped up operations across the country, resulting in thousands of arrests.

Demonstrations have erupted in major cities, including Los Angeles, where immigration officers have clashed with protesters. President Trump has since authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to support enforcement actions.

Khaby Lame, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, is best known for his viral, silent reaction videos that humorously mock overly complicated life hacks.

With more than 162 million followers on TikTok and over 80 million on Instagram, the Senegalese-born creator rose to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic after losing his job at a factory in Italy.

Beyond his social media success, Khaby has leveraged his influence into high-profile partnerships and philanthropic roles.

He has collaborated with major brands such as Hugo Boss, Sony Pictures, and Walmart, and Forbes named him one of the highest-earning Black creators, reporting annual earnings of around Sh2.85 billion ($20 million)