By Hadiza Abdulkadir
Khaby Lame, the Senegal-born TikTok sensation who rose to global fame for his silent comedic videos, has voluntarily left the United States after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying his visa.
The 25-year-old, who officially became an Italian citizen in 2022, was held at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for immigration violations. Lame had been in the U.S. on a temporary visa, which reportedly expired before his detention.
Lame, known by his handle @khaby.lame, boasts over 162 million followers on TikTok, making him one of the most followed creators on the platform. His signature style—wordless, expressive reactions to overly complicated life hacks—catapulted him to viral fame during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His detention comes amid intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has renewed crackdowns on visa overstays and undocumented immigrants.
Sources close to Lame say he has returned to Italy and cooperates fully with authorities. Neither Lame nor his representatives have made a public statement regarding the incident.